than
/ðæn/ (bre, ipa) · [ðˈæn] /ðæn/ (ame, ipa) · [ðˈæn] /t͟hən, ˈt͟han/ (ame, mw)
than — preposition
1. used when comparing two people, things, or situations to show which one has a pa
used when comparing two people, things, or situations to show which one has a particular quality to a greater or lesser degree
Théo is taller than his older brother now.
than + noun phrase for direct comparison
This suitcase feels heavier than the one Nkechi was carrying.
David can swim faster than anyone else on the team.
Reema's new apartment on Walker Street is much closer to the station than mine is.
The chemistry final exam was far more difficult than anyone in the class expected.
- compared to
used before the second item in a comparison, but functions as a prepositional phrase rather than a conjoining word. E.g., 'tall compared to his brother.'
文法句型
than + noun phrase
than + object pronoun (me, him, her, us, them)
用法筆記
In formal English, the pronoun after 'than' should be a subject pronoun ('than I') when it is the subject of an implied verb ('than I am'). In everyday speech, object pronouns ('than me') are widely accepted.
常見錯誤
2. used after 'more' or 'less' to say a number, amount, distance, or length of time
used after 'more' or 'less' to say a number, amount, distance, or length of time is larger or smaller than a specific quantity
More than two hundred people came to the festival in town.
more than + specific number
The train ride from Brighton took less than an hour.
less than + time period
Zayd paid no more than thirty dollars for that old chair.
Constanza drove more than three hundred miles to visit her aunt.
The temperature dropped to less than five degrees last night.
文法句型
more than + number
less than + number
用法筆記
For countable items, 'fewer than' is traditionally preferred over 'less than' ('fewer than ten people'), though 'less than' is common in everyday use for both.
常見錯誤
3. used in the pattern 'no sooner … than' (or 'hardly … than') to say that one even
used in the pattern 'no sooner … than' (or 'hardly … than') to say that one event happened immediately after another, often with dramatic effect
No sooner had Théo locked the front door than the phone rang.
no sooner + had + subject + past participle + than
No sooner did Ada sit down to eat than her neighbour knocked on the door.
Hardly had Joon stepped off the train than it began to rain.
No sooner had the children fallen asleep than the power went out in the storm.
- as soon as
simpler, everyday alternative. 'As soon as he locked the door, the phone rang.' No inversion needed.
- the moment
also simpler. 'The moment he locked the door, the phone rang.'
文法句型
no sooner + past perfect + than + past simple
用法筆記
When the phrase begins a sentence ('No sooner had she…'), the subject and verb are inverted — similar to question word order. This pattern is formal or literary in tone.
常見錯誤
4. used to mean 'except' or 'apart from', often following words like 'none', 'no on
used to mean 'except' or 'apart from', often following words like 'none', 'no one', 'nothing', 'anywhere', or 'other'
Nkechi eats nothing other than vegetables for her evening meal.
nothing + other than + noun
No one other than David knew where the spare keys were kept.
no one + other than + noun
Asher has never visited anywhere other than his hometown.
The museum is closed to anyone other than staff on Mondays.
- except
more direct and common in everyday speech. 'Everyone except David knew the code.'
- apart from
slightly less formal. 'Apart from vegetables, Nkechi eats nothing.'
- including
the opposite of 'except'; adds items rather than excluding them.
文法句型
other than + noun phrase
none/no one + other than
than — conjunction
1. used to say that you prefer one thing over another, especially when making a cho
used to say that you prefer one thing over another, especially when making a choice or stating what you will not do
Mayumi decided to walk rather than take the bus to school.
rather than + bare infinitive
Christopher would rather cook dinner at home than eat out at a restaurant.
would rather + verb + than + verb
Tomás chose to tell the truth rather than make up a story.
The teacher explained the rules again rather than moving on to the next topic.
- instead of
more common in everyday speech. 'Instead of taking the bus, she walked.'
- in preference to
more formal. 'He chose tea in preference to coffee.'
文法句型
rather than + bare infinitive
rather than + -ing form
would rather … than
用法筆記
When 'rather than' begins a sentence, it typically takes the -ing form or an infinitive without 'to': 'Rather than wait for a taxi, she walked.'
常見錯誤
2. used after 'different', 'differently', 'otherwise', or 'other' to show that a si
used after 'different', 'differently', 'otherwise', or 'other' to show that a situation, result, or behaviour differs from what was expected or from another possibility
The result was different than what Joon had predicted.
different + than + clause (American usage)
The film's ending was completely different than what Sofia had imagined from the book.
The meeting turned out quite differently than the team had planned.
Bao's route to the airport was different than the one Mira had suggested.
- otherwise than
more formal, often in legal or technical writing.
- differently from
standard in all varieties of English.
- the same as
opposite: no difference.
文法句型
different + than + clause
otherwise + than + noun phrase
用法筆記
In British English, 'different from' is preferred over 'different than'. 'Different than' is standard in American English when followed by a full clause.
常見錯誤
❌ 'This is different to what I expected.' (British English) — While 'different to' is accepted in the UK, 'different from' is the safest choice for both British and American audiences.