thanconjunction
Than introduces the second thing in a comparison: the thing something is measured against, the choice that someone likes less, or, after no sooner, the event that followed at once.
comparingused after a comparative form, such as bigger or more carefully, to introduce the second part of a comparison
What follows than is what the first part is compared with. It is often a shortened clause: than I am, than we did, than expected, than usual, than ever.
- She is taller than her brother is.
- The trip took longer than we expected.
- It's colder today than it was yesterday.
- He drives more carefully than he used to.
Compare then (then is about time (first this, then that); than is used for comparing); as; as
preferenceused after rather or sooner to introduce the choice that someone likes less
The verb after than is usually in the base form: I'd rather walk than drive; She decided to stay home rather than go.
- I'd rather walk than wait for the bus.
- She decided to stay home rather than go to the party.
- He would sooner quit than work with them again.
Collocations
phrase rather than, sooner thanno soonerused after no sooner to show that one thing happened immediately after another
When no sooner begins the sentence, it is followed by the word order of a question: No sooner had we sat down than the phone rang.
Usage
Before a pronoun on its own, everyday English uses the object form: taller than me, older than him. This is than as a preposition, a separate entry; this entry covers than followed by a clause, a verb, or a short fixed comparison such as than expected or than usual. In formal writing a full clause is usual: She is taller than I am. Different than is common in American English; different from is used everywhere.
Common mistakes
See also than (before a noun or pronoun on its own: taller than me)