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'{{Distinguish2|[[Then (disambiguation)]]}} {{Refimprove|date=November 2009}} {{Wiktionary|than}} '''''Than''''' is a [[grammatical particle]] analyzed as both a [[grammatical conjunction|conjunction]] and a [[preposition]] in the [[English language]]. It introduces a comparison, and is associated with [[comparative]]s and with words such as [[wiktionary:more|more]], [[wiktionary:less|less]], and [[wiktionary:fewer|fewer]]. Typically, it measures the force of an [[adjective]] or similar description between two [[Predicate (grammar)|predicate]]s. ==Usage== ===Confusion between ''than'' and ''then''=== In writing, ''than'' and ''[[Then (disambiguation)|then]]'' are often erroneously interchanged. In standard English, ''then'' refers to time, while ''than'' is used in comparisons. ===Case of pronouns following ''than''=== According to the view of many English-language [[Prescription (linguistics)|prescriptionists]] and of influential 18th-century grammarian [[Robert Lowth]], ''than'' is exclusively a conjunction and therefore takes either [[nominative case|nominative]] (or subjective) or [[oblique case|oblique]] (or objective) pronouns depending on context, rather than exclusively oblique pronouns as prepositions do.<ref> O'Conner, ''Origins of the Specious: Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language'' (2009), pp. 40-41</ref><ref>Crystal, ''Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language'' 2nd ed., p. 203.</ref> [[William Shakespeare]]'s 1600 play ''[[Julius Caesar (play)|Julius Caesar]]'' has an instance of an oblique pronoun following ''than'' where the nominative is also possible: :''A man no mightier than thyself or me...'' The instance is unusual in Shakespeare's writing, which largely is consistent with the English-language presciptionists and Robert Lowth. [[Samuel Johnson]] wrote the following: :''No man had ever more discernment than him, in finding out the ridiculous.'' In simple comparisons in contemporary English, ''than'' often takes an oblique pronoun, which lexicographers and usage commentators regard as prepositional use and as standard. The [[noun case|case]] of a [[pronoun]] following ''than'' can be determined by context. ;Examples: * ''You are a better swimmer than she.'' ** The sentence is equivalent to "You are a better swimmer than she is." * ''They like you more than her.'' ** The sentence is equivalent to "They like you more than they like her." ** The sentence "They like you more than she" may instead mean "They like you more than she likes you." ==References== <references/>http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?dict=CALD&key=21561 [[Category:English grammar]]'