Than and Then

Use 'than' to compare and 'then' to show time.

'Than' and 'then' differ by just one letter, but they do different jobs. 'Than' is for comparing two things: 'A whale is bigger than a dolphin. ' 'Then' is about time: it means next, or at that time: 'We ate dinner, and then we washed the dishes. ' Here is a trick: 'then' and 'when' both have an e and both deal with time. 'Than' and 'compare' both have an a.

Watch both in one sentence: 'First the puppy was smaller than the cat, but then it grew. ' 'Smaller than the cat' compares sizes, and 'then it grew' tells what happened next. Whenever you see a comparing word ending in -er, like faster or taller, 'than' usually follows.

• 1than = comparing (bigger than).
• 2then = time, next (and then).
• 3Comparing words ending in -er are usually followed by than.