For example, if your teacher asks you where you were at noon yesterday, you could respond, “I was at lunch then. ” If someone asks when something will be ready, you could let them know to, “Come back tomorrow afternoon. I will have everything ready by then. ”

We are going to leave at 9, and then we stop for lunch around 11. First, you line up part A and part B. Then, you screw them together. The inner planets go Mercury, Venus, Earth, and then Mars.

If you’re adding additional information you might say, “The dinner costs $20, and then you have to add the tip. ” To express conditional information you may say, “If the weather is good, then we will go to the beach tomorrow. ”

For example, “That program was instituted in 2010 by then President Barack Obama. ” This use isn’t limited to just people, though. You could also say something like, “The historian wrote about the then thriving state of Rome. ”

There are more onions than scallions in your fridge. I can run faster now than I could last year. I like cloudy weather more than I like the sun.

For example, if it feels like your alarm goes off right after you fall asleep, you may say, “No sooner did I lay my head down than my clock started to ring. ” This usage may seem similar to how then may be used sometimes, which can be confusing. The difference is that then would be used if there was a sequence, but than is not describing a sequence in this instance. It is showing correlation or relationship between 2 things, such as laying down your head and your alarm clock going off.

For example, it wouldn’t work to say “Jessica arrived later subsequently Joe. ” Even though you’re talking about time, in this context you’re still comparing who was later. That is why this sentence needs to be, “Jessica arrived later than Joe. ” However, it does make sense to say, “First and need to shower and next I have to catch the bus. ” In this context, “next” can be substituted for then.

If I write the word “next” instead of “then,” will the sentence still make sense? “I will go to the store next” makes sense, so here we would say “I will go to the store then. " If I write the phrase “in comparison to” instead of the word “than,” will the sentence still make sense? “A used car costs less in comparison to a new car” makes sense, so you’d want to say “It costs less than a new car. "

Pay attention to your use of then and than in your everyday writing, too. Set aside a few extra minutes to proofread your essays, letters, school work, and documents so that you can check for the correct usage. You can even look for then and than quizzes and exercises online to help you test your usage. [9] X Research source

Try saying than with your mouth opened wide and the tongue pressed down toward your teeth. The vowel sounds from the back of the mouth and the throat is somewhat constricted. Say then with your mouth partially opened. The vowel rises from a relaxed throat and the tongue rests.

Try saying than with your mouth opened wide and the tongue pressed down toward your teeth. The vowel sounds from the back of the mouth and the throat is somewhat constricted. Say then with your mouth partially opened. The vowel rises from a relaxed throat and the tongue rests.