Explain "then" and "than" to me me.....

Doug · Jul 9, 2008

It always sounds wrong when used properly.

I get the the They're,there,their

and the the to,too.two stuff

then and than are tougher ( for me).

........................................................................................................

I'll bet on on the Redsox in the day game, than if they win , I'll bet the NYY at night. Is this correct, instead of "then if they win".

BigPIG19 · Jul 9, 2008

it is definately "then if they win"

GreenDoberman · Jul 9, 2008

Doug went into the bathroom and washed his hands. Then he pissed in the sink rather than in the toilet.:aktion033

GreenDoberman · Jul 9, 2008

Then refers to time, than refers to choice.

I walked then I ran.

I'd rather walk than run.

Sincerely,
Your retired 7th grade English Teacher Mr. Doberman

Cusipz · Jul 9, 2008

No..If I recall:

Then is for sequence of time.. .Do A THEN B.

Than is comparative, comparing things. I have more money THAN Doug, for example.

So, it would be, bet the RedSox, then if they win, bet the NYY.

quinnsft34 · Jul 9, 2008

BigPIG19 said:
it is definately "then if they win"

You're definitely right on this one.

Dobey that's some funny shit.

WorldNumberOne · Jul 9, 2008

if you need to ask the difference between then and than , then you are idiot ...

does that clear it up ?

Brock · Jul 9, 2008

See you latter then.
I would rather win than lose.
This always got me in baseball.
top of the first. To me top means the highest part.
bottom of the first. To me this always meant low part
meaning the beginning.

top
-
-
-
-
bottom.

Doug · Jul 9, 2008

I know what sounds correct to my ears, but I think being strict about usage... would equate to than, when I want then used.

It is somewhat debatable. I think Canadians/English are more likely to use than, when I want to hear then.

NES · Jul 9, 2008

God damn it doug, did you take a retarded pill today?

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GreenDoberman · Jul 9, 2008

You mean these?

MrJ · Jul 9, 2008

Doug said:
It is somewhat debatable. I think Canadians/English are more likely to use than, when I want to hear then.

It's not debatable, people just use them incorrectly. Than is used when comparing things and then is used for time.

Examples:

Baseball is better than basketball.
I'm comparing them, and this is when 'than' is used.

I went to the baseball and then went to the basketball. Then is stating that the condition of going to the basketball occured after the condition of going to the baseball, so 'then' is used.

Another way to think of it is how else could I say those statements?

Baseball is better than basketball.
I prefer baseball to basketball.
I like baseball more than basketball.

See how they're all comparing baseball to basketball? Now let's take a look at 'then':

I went to the baseball and then went to the basketball.
I went to the basketball after I went to the baseball.
I saw the baseball game, followed by the basketball game.
After I went to the baseball, I went to the basketball.

All to do with time, i.e. one condition taking place after another. You would be better off consulting a dictionary (I'm not necessarily correct), but I hope those examples help.

Doug, I imagine accents don't help. Americans don't seem to differentiate between the pronounciation of the two words as greatly as non-Americans.

rgorr · Jul 9, 2008

Americans change many things because they are lazy and hate work
(i.e. demise of the US auto industry - bad workmanship; over bearing unionism)

Anyway, I digress:

dropping the 'u' in colour, neighbour, etc.

writing dates as mm/dd/yy rather than the international dd/mm/yy

Doug · Jul 9, 2008

I guess my instincts were right after all, I started to 2nd guess what I thought was correct, after awhile.

quinnsft34 · Jul 9, 2008

rgorr said:
Americans change many things because they are lazy and hate work
(i.e. demise of the US auto industry - bad workmanship; over bearing unionism)

Anyway, I digress:

dropping the 'u' in colour, neighbour, etc.

writing dates as mm/dd/yy rather than the international dd/mm/yy

Silly Canadians always adding letterss to thinggs. Favourite, colour, neighbour that jussstt lookkss retarded. We may be over unionized but saying we are spelling words lazily is silly. I do hate work but seem to show up there everyday. Sorry didn't mean to come to the defence of my fellow americans carry on.

rgorr · Jul 9, 2008

'our' is the original 'English' or 'British' spelling

quinnsft34 · Jul 9, 2008

rgorr said:
'our' is the original 'English' or 'British' spelling

It's ok big guy I'm from the States not from across the pond or anything. Oh and I was just kidding anyway.

Dawoofdaddy · Jul 9, 2008

rgorr said:
Americans change many things because they are lazy and hate work
(i.e. demise of the US auto industry - bad workmanship; over bearing unionism)

Anyway, I digress:

dropping the 'u' in colour, neighbour, etc.

writing dates as mm/dd/yy rather than the international dd/mm/yy

Add our refusal to adopt the metric system.

NES · Jul 9, 2008

And lets not forget our generosity and compassion.

quot7quot · Jul 9, 2008

DAWOOFDADDY said:
Add our refusal to adopt the metric system.

Dont forget that we take pounding hot showers instead of cool baths, we outlaw smoking everywhere but are eating ourselves into all sorts of diseases and we are arrogant, war-mongering SOBs who think we own the world.

ope: