🔑 Key Difference

• “Than” is used when comparing two things.
• “Then” refers to time or a sequence of events.

Now, let’s break them down in more detail:

1. “Than” (used for comparisons)

“Than” is a conjunction, meaning we use it to compare things. When you’re saying one thing is different from or better than another, this is your word.

• Example 1: “She is taller than her brother.”
  • Here, “taller than” compares height between two people.
• Example 2: “This cake tastes better than the one I made last week.”
  • We’re comparing two cakes to show that one is tastier.

1. “Then” (refers to time or sequence)

“Then” is an adverb used to talk about what happens next or at that time. It’s all about showing order or when something occurs.

• Example 1: “I will do my homework, then watch TV.”
  • This shows the sequence: First homework, then TV.
• Example 2: “Back then, I lived in a small town.”
  • Here, “then” refers to a specific point in time in the past.

🎭 Analogy

Think of “than” as the friend you call when you’re comparing things—who’s taller, smarter, or faster. Meanwhile, “then” is the friend you call when you want to tell a story in order: first this happened, then that.

📝 Varied Examples

Basic:

• “This book is longer than that one.” (Comparison)
• “We went to the park, and then we had ice cream.” (Time sequence)

Advanced:

• “I find classical music more relaxing than jazz.”
• “He paused for a moment, then continued his speech with renewed energy.”

💡 Common Mistakes and Tips

A lot of learners confuse these two because they sound so similar, but here’s an easy way to remember:

• “Than” has an “A” → Think of “A” for compArison.
• “Then” has an “E” → Think of “E” for EvEnts in time.

📝 Practice Time

Fill in the blanks with either “than” or “then”:

1. I am faster ______ you in the race.
2. We’ll go shopping first, ______ we’ll grab lunch.
3. She is more creative ______ her colleagues.
4. He studied for hours, ______ he took a break.

✅ Answers:

1. I am faster than you in the race.
2. We’ll go shopping first, then we’ll grab lunch.
3. She is more creative than her colleagues.
4. He studied for hours, then he took a break.

🌟 Pro Tip

To avoid confusion, remember:

• Use “than” when comparing.
• Use “then” to describe time or what happens next.