What is than? Pronunciation and usage in English

than means . Learn how to pronounce and use than through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of than

thanconjunction

/ð(ə)n//ðan/
Definition & pronunciation of than

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "than" in English. It's a tricky one because it's often mispronounced! Here's a breakdown:

The Correct Pronunciation (General American English):

  • Sounds like: “thahn” (rhymes with "pan" or "fan")

Here's a more detailed breakdown of the sounds:

  1. "th" sound: This is a voiceless dental fricative. It's the "th" sound you make when you say "think" or "this." Your tongue should be lightly touching the back of your top teeth.

  2. "a" sound: This is a short "a" sound, like in the word "cat." It's a quick, unstressed vowel.

  3. "n" sound: A simple "n" sound.

Common Mispronunciations and Why They're Wrong:

  • “tan”: This is the most common mistake. It's completely different!
  • “than” with a drawn-out "a": Don't linger on the "a" sound. It's brief and quick.

Tips for Practicing:

  • Listen to Native Speakers: The best way to learn pronunciation is to hear it. You can find examples on:
  • Record Yourself: Record yourself saying "than" and compare it to a native speaker's pronunciation.
  • Slow it Down: Initially, practice saying it slowly and deliberately, focusing on each individual sound. Then gradually increase your speed.

Resources to Help:

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  • Give you more examples of words with similar sounds?
  • Create a mini-exercise for you to practice the pronunciation?

Usage and examples with the word than in English

Let's break down how to use the word "than" in English. It's a surprisingly tricky word because it has multiple uses, and it's frequently misused. Here's a detailed explanation:

1. Comparison (Most Common Use)

  • Function: "Than" is used to introduce a comparison between two things. It's essentially saying "to what extent" or "in what way."
  • Structure: You'll usually see it in a sentence like this: A is than B.
  • Examples:
    • "My car is than yours." (My car is older/bigger/faster than yours.) – You're comparing the car to someone else’s car.
    • "She is than I am." (She is taller/older/more experienced than I am.) – You're comparing yourself to someone else.
    • "He runs than I do." (He runs faster than I do.) – Comparing someone’s running speed.
    • "This book is more interesting than the one I read last week." (Comparing the interest level of two books)

2. "Than" as a Substitute for "Then" (Careful!)

  • Context: Sometimes, “than” is used in place of “then” when referring to a point in time or sequence, but this should be done very deliberately and cautiously. It's more common in formal writing.
  • Example: "I was happier than I had thought I would be." (Instead of: “I was happier then than I had thought I would be.”) – Here, "than" subtly emphasizes the degree of happiness compared to expectations.
  • Why it’s tricky: "Then" is almost always the correct choice for indicating time or sequence. Be very sure you’re using “than” for comparison, not for “then.”

3. "Than" in Hypothetical Situations (If...Than)

  • Function: "Than" is used in conditional sentences (often starting with “if”) to express a hypothetical result.
  • Structure: “If + clause (with than), then + clause.”
  • Example: "If I study hard, than I will pass the exam." (This is incorrect. It should be "If I study hard, then I will pass the exam.")
  • Correct Example: “If I study hard, then I will pass the exam." - This means, “provided I study hard, then I will pass the exam.”

Important Notes & Common Mistakes:

  • Don't say "than I": The correct construction is always “than” (without the “I”). Incorrect: “better than I.” Correct: “better than he.”
  • Avoid using “than” in positive statements: "Than" is almost always used in comparisons, not in simple statements of fact. Incorrect: “He is than a good singer.” Correct: “He is a good singer.”
  • "Rather than": This is a set phrase meaning "instead of." Example: "I would rather eat pizza rather than pasta."

Let’s test your understanding:

Fill in the blank with "than" or "then":

  1. I was tired _____ I had slept only a few hours.
  2. If you finish your homework, _______ you can watch TV.
  3. My grandfather is older _______ my father.

Answers:

  1. than
  2. then
  3. than

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Synonyms for the word than

Idioms of the word than

other than
except
  • I don't know any French people other than you.
  • We're going away in June but other than that I'll be here all summer.
(formal)different or in a different way from; not
  • I have never known him to behave other than selfishly.

Practice with vocabulary than

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Our new software performs much faster _____ the previous version.
  2. She is as intelligent _____ her brother, making them both strong candidates.
  3. I would prefer coffee _____ tea during our morning meeting.
  4. The project requires more resources _____ initially estimated to ensure its successful completion.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The new software is considerably more efficient _____ the old system. a) then b) than c) as d) to
  2. Achieving this milestone will require more effort _____ anticipated. a) then b) as c) than d) like
  3. Our market share has grown larger _____ our closest competitor's over the past year. a) then b) than c) in comparison with d) compared to
  4. I would prefer coffee _____ tea for our morning break. a) than b) to c) over d) rather than
  5. The team's performance was not quite up to par, falling _____ expectations. a) less b) below c) under d) short of

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The new policy is more advantageous for employees compared to the previous one. (Rewrite the sentence to use "than".)
  2. Our team completed the task quickly, finishing it before the deadline. (Rewrite the sentence to use "than" or a related word form.)
  3. I prefer to collaborate with colleagues instead of working alone. (Rewrite the sentence without using "than".)

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Our new software performs much faster than the previous version.
  2. She is as intelligent as her brother, making them both strong candidates.
  3. I would prefer coffee to tea during our morning meeting.
  4. The project requires more resources than initially estimated to ensure its successful completion.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) than
  2. c) than
  3. b) than, d) compared to
  4. b) to
  5. b) below, d) short of

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The new policy is more advantageous for employees than the previous one.
  2. Our team completed the task faster than the deadline required.
  3. I prefer to collaborate with colleagues to working alone.

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