Definition

1. Conjunction/Preposition:
   • Used to introduce the second element in a comparison: "than" is a grammatical particle used to compare two entities, indicating that one has a greater or lesser degree of a quality, quantity, or manner relative to the other. It always follows an adjective or adverb in the comparative form (e.g., better, more, less, faster).

Usage Examples

• (Indicates a greater degree of height in her compared to her brother.)
• (Shows a preference for one action over another.)
• (Compares the actual difficulty to the expected difficulty.)
• (Indicates a smaller amount of money compared to the stated figure.)

Advanced Usage

• "No sooner... than": Used to indicate that one event happens immediately after another.

  • No sooner had we arrived than the rain started. (As soon as we arrived, the rain began.)

• "Other than": Meaning "except" or "besides."

  • I have no plans other than to relax this weekend. (I have no plans besides relaxing.)

• "Rather than": Used to express a preference or alternative.

  • He chose to walk rather than take the bus. (He preferred walking to taking the bus.)

Variants and Related Words

• Than has no direct variants or related words; it is a standalone function word. However, it often appears in fixed phrases:
  • Comparative than: always paired with comparatives (e.g., bigger than, faster than).
  • Than is not a noun, verb, or adjective; it is a conjunction or preposition.

Synonyms

• Compared to: a phrase that serves a similar comparative function.
  • This model is more efficient compared to the old one. (Equivalent to "more efficient than.")
• As opposed to: used to highlight a contrast.
  • I prefer tea as opposed to coffee. (Similar to "rather than.")

Phrasal Verbs

• Than does not form phrasal verbs. It is not a verb.

Related Idioms

• More than meets the eye: Meaning something is more complex or significant than it appears.

  • The problem is more than meets the eye; there are hidden issues. (It is more complicated than it initially seems.)

• Easier said than done: Meaning something is easier to talk about than to accomplish.

  • Losing weight is easier said than done. (It is difficult to achieve in practice.)

• Better safe than sorry: Meaning it is wiser to be cautious than to risk harm.

  • Take an umbrella — better safe than sorry. (It is better to be prepared than regret not being prepared.)