than
/ðæn/ (bre, ipa) · [ðˈæn] /ðæn/ (ame, ipa) · [ðˈæn] /t͟hən, ˈt͟han/ (ame, mw)
than — 介系詞
1. used when comparing two people, things, or situations to show which one has a pa
比
比較兩個事物在程度上的差別
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.
Théo 現在比他哥哥高了。
than + noun phrase for direct comparison
This suitcase feels heavier than the one Nkechi was carrying.
這個行李箱感覺比 Nkechi 拿的那個重。
David can swim faster than anyone else on the team.
David 游泳的速度比隊上任何一個人都快。
Reema's new apartment on Walker Street is much closer to the station than mine is.
Reema 的新公寓比我的離車站近得多。
The chemistry final exam was far more difficult than anyone in the class expected.
化學期末考比班上任何人預期的還要難得多。
- 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
多於；少於
表示超過或少於某個數量
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.
超過兩百人參加了鎮上的慶典。
more than + specific number
The train ride from Brighton took less than an hour.
從布萊頓搭火車不到一個小時就到了。
less than + time period
Zayd paid no more than thirty dollars for that old chair.
Zayd 買那把舊椅子只花了不到三十美元。
Constanza drove more than three hundred miles to visit her aunt.
Constanza 開了三百多英里去看她阿姨。
The temperature dropped to less than five degrees last night.
昨晚的氣溫降到了攝氏五度以下。
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
隨即；就
表示某事緊接著發生
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.
Théo 一鎖上大門，電話就響了。
no sooner + had + subject + past participle + than
No sooner did Ada sit down to eat than her neighbour knocked on the door.
Ada 才剛坐下來吃飯，鄰居就來敲門了。
Hardly had Joon stepped off the train than it began to rain.
Joon 才剛下火車，就開始下起雨來了。
No sooner had the children fallen asleep than the power went out in the storm.
孩子們一睡著，暴風雨就讓停電了。
- 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
除了
表示除了某事物以外；不包含
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.
Nkechi 晚餐除了蔬菜之外什麼都不吃。
nothing + other than + noun
No one other than David knew where the spare keys were kept.
除了 David 之外，沒有人知道備用鑰匙放在哪裡。
no one + other than + noun
Asher has never visited anywhere other than his hometown.
Asher 除了家鄉以外，哪裡都沒去過。
The museum is closed to anyone other than staff on Mondays.
博物館週一不對外開放，僅限工作人員進入。
- 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 — 連接詞
1. used to say that you prefer one thing over another, especially when making a cho
與其…不如
表示選擇或偏好
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.
Mayumi 決定走路去學校，而不是搭公車。
rather than + bare infinitive
Christopher would rather cook dinner at home than eat out at a restaurant.
Christopher 寧可在家煮飯，也不願上餐廳吃。
would rather + verb + than + verb
Tomás chose to tell the truth rather than make up a story.
Tomás 寧可說實話，也不願意編故事。
The teacher explained the rules again rather than moving on to the next topic.
老師把規則重新講了一遍，而不是直接進入下一個主題。
- 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
不同於
表示與預期不同或對比
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.
結果跟 Joon 預測的不一樣。
different + than + clause (American usage)
The film's ending was completely different than what Sofia had imagined from the book.
這部電影的結局和 Sofia 看書時想像的完全不一樣。
The meeting turned out quite differently than the team had planned.
會議的進行方式和團隊的規劃大不相同。
Bao's route to the airport was different than the one Mira had suggested.
Bao 去機場的路線跟 Mira 建議的那一條不一樣。
- 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.