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Then vs. Than 1018 Views

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Description:

This video clears up the confusion between then and than once and for all. It explains when to use each one (one for time, one for comparison) and how to remember which one is which.

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English Language

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Transcript

00:04
Then versus Than, a la Shmoop. Josh has a hot date with Leslie this Saturday,
00:10
and he has some decisions to make. Should they go to dinner and then to a movie...or
00:15
the other way around?
00:17
And would Leslie like a chick flick better than the latest Vin Diesel masterpiece?
00:21
Josh has so much to worry about, it's a good thing he doesn't have to fret over the “then”

00:26
versus “than” grammar rule. “Then” with an “e” is an element of
00:33
time, and means “next” or “at the time”.
00:37
For example, maybe you have English first thing Monday morning, then geometry, and then
00:41
lunch.
00:41
When you get home from school, maybe you do a little homework...
00:44
...then play a video game, then eat dinner. “Than” with an “a” is what you use
00:50
when you want to make a comparison.
00:52
You might say, “Apple pie with vanilla ice cream is better than plain apple pie.”
00:58
Duh, talk about your obvious statements.
01:00
Or, you might say, “Grandma Meredith is even more frightening than a boa constrictor.”
01:06
Yeah, she scares us, too. If you're looking for a trick to remember
01:10
the difference between “then” with an “e” and “than” with an “a”...
01:13
...recall that there's an “e” in “then” and an “e” in “time”...
01:17
...so the two go together...
01:19
...and that there's an “a” in “than” and an “a” in “comparison”...
01:24
...so those two go together. Now Josh just needs to figure out when on
01:32
Saturday night to pencil in a make-out session with Leslie.
01:35
Of course, Leslie may have her own plans…
Full Transcript