More Important Than or Then Grammar Guide for Beginners

As a beginner, it's easy to get confused between "more important than" and "more than." In fact, a common mistake is using "then" instead of "than" in this context. This can change the meaning of your sentence entirely.

Using "more than" is a great way to compare quantities. For example, "I have more than 10 books on my shelf."

You can also use "more than" to compare amounts or degrees. In this case, "more than" is often used with a specific number or amount. For instance, "I've been studying for more than 5 hours."

It's worth noting that "more than" is often used in a more casual or informal way, while "more important than" is more formal and proper.

The words "then" and "than" are often confused with each other, but they have distinct meanings and uses. Then is used to refer to time or a sequence of events, as in "I miss my time at college, everything was much easier then."

Than is used to draw a comparison and usually appears in combination with other words, for instance "heavier than", "greater than", or "fewer than." This table is heavier than four of the dining room chairs.

To remember the difference, you can use mnemonics or little tricks, such as the one mentioned earlier: "Comparison" has the letter "A" and doesn't have the letter "E" → THAN, and "Time" has the letter "E" and doesn't have the letter "A" → THEN.

Here's a quick reference guide to help you decide which word to use:

For example, "I would rather cook than eat outside food" means you prefer cooking to eating outside, while "I would rather cook then eat outside food" implies you prefer to cook first and eat outside food second.

In everyday conversations, it's easy to get confused between more important than and then. Let's take a look at some examples that illustrate the difference.

The word then is often used to indicate time or sequence, as seen in the example: "I would rather cook then eat outside food." This sentence implies that you prefer to cook first and eat outside food second.

In contrast, more important than is used to make comparisons, as in the example: "I would rather cook than eat outside food." This sentence says you prefer cooking to eating outside.

Here's a summary of the difference in a table:

In some sentences, the difference between then and than is crucial to convey the intended meaning. For example, using then can imply a sequence of actions, as seen in the sentence "I would rather cook then eat outside food."

The correct usage of than is essential to make comparisons, like in the sentence "I would rather cook than eat outside food." This sentence clearly states a preference between two options.

The sentence "I would rather cook then eat outside food" implies a sequence of actions, where cooking is done first and eating outside food is done second. This is a common pitfall to avoid when using then and than.

It's not about being grammatically incorrect, but about conveying the right message. For instance, in the sentence "I would rather cook than eat outside food", the word than is used to make a comparison between cooking and eating outside food.

Here are some examples of commonly confused examples:

These two sentences have different meanings, and the correct usage of then and than is essential to convey the intended message.

Using less than as a synonym for far from or certainly not can be a bit tricky, but it's essential to understand the context.

In some cases, less than is used to emphasize a strong negative, as seen in the example "Is it Less Then or Less Than?". The phrase "far from" is a good way to remember this usage.

For instance, saying "I'm far from satisfied with the service" conveys a stronger negative than simply saying "I'm not satisfied".

Fill the gaps with the right word – than or then – to make sure the difference sticks. If you're a Talaera student, complete this exercise on the platform to get immediate feedback.

First, we'll go to New York; then we'll head for Costa Rica. This exercise is a great way to practice the difference between than and then in a fun and interactive way.

I would rather work from home than at the office. Remember, than introduces the second part of a pair that is being compared, and then refers to when things happen in time.

Do you plan to join us then? The key is to understand the context and choose the word that makes the most sense.

Her English skills are so much better than last year thanks to Talaera. Practice makes perfect, so try filling in the gaps with the right word as many times as you can.

The parcel they sent is heavier than the one they sent last year. This will help you commit the difference between than and then to memory.

Joe's writing skills were much worse back then. You can also try reading out loud to yourself as you fill in the gaps, this will help you get a feel for how the sentences sound.

We haven't seen her since then. The more you practice, the more comfortable you'll become with choosing the right word.

They only go to the office now and then. Don't be afraid to make mistakes – it's all part of the learning process.

This new computer has more memory than we ever thought possible. The most important thing is to keep practicing and reviewing the difference between than and then.

Here are the correct answers to the exercise:

In many cases, more important than is used to compare two things where one is more valuable or significant. For example, "My education is more important than my job." This usage is especially common in formal or written language.

In formal writing, more important than is often preferred over then because it sounds more polished and professional. This is why it's commonly used in academic or business settings.

More important than is also used to compare two things where one is more crucial or essential. For instance, "Having a stable home is more important than having a fancy car." This highlights the importance of prioritizing needs over wants.

Then, on the other hand, is often used in informal writing or spoken language, especially in casual conversations.