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# than

conjunction, preposition

«than» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Than is used when you compare two things: «taller than», «more than». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#m1)
2. Than also comes after «rather» and «other»: «rather walk than ride», «anyone other than Ben». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#m2)
3. «No sooner … than» means just after: «No sooner had we left than it rained». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#m3)
4. (casual) People often say «than me» rather than «than I»: «He's taller than me». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#m4)
5. (formal) Exams say «in excess of», «exceeding», «less than or equal to», «fewer than» and «other than» in long comparisons. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#m5)
6. Than can also mean only, as in "no more than five pence". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#m6)

### In the lessons

in «more … than», «fewer … than», «older … than», «less than», «bigger than»; in maths it marks a comparison; the signs \> and \< are read «greater than» and «less than»; in casual talk «more than ever», «better than nothing», «way more than», «heaps more than»; in rough talk «you're dumber than a box of rocks» (a put-down); in the exam voice «exceeds by», «is in excess of», «is not less than» (≥), «is not more than» (≤)

### Examples

- How many more books does Tom have than Ben? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#x1)
- Max has 2 fewer books than Lily. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#x2)
- Anna is 3 years older than Tom. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#x3)
- 9 is greater than 6, so we write 9 \> 6. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#x4)
- A whale is bigger than an elephant. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#x5)
- I would rather read than watch TV. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#x6)
- Nobody other than Mia knew the answer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#x7)
- He's got way more cards than me, like 10 more. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#x8)
- Better than nothing, I s'pose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#x9)
- You're slower than a snail, hurry up! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#x10)
- By how many does 23 exceed 15? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#x11)
- The number of pupils shall be not less than 20 and not more than 30. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/#x12)

### Note

«than» marks a comparison. «How many more A than B» asks for a difference: subtract, even though it says «more». «A has D more than B» gives A = B + D. «A exceeds B by D» is the same as A = B + D. «not less than 20» means 20 or more. Trap: do not mix up «than» (comparing) and «then» (next, after that).

## In Jewish tradition

in «more … than», «fewer … than», «older … than», «less than», «bigger than»; in maths it marks a comparison; the signs \> and \< are read «greater than» and «less than»; in casual talk «more than ever», «better than nothing», «way more than», «heaps more than»; in rough talk «you're dumber than a box of rocks» (a put-down); in the exam voice «exceeds by», «is in excess of», «is not less than» (≥), «is not more than» (≤)

### Examples

- And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. (Torah NUM.22.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/than/#x1)
- And Cain said unto the LORD: 'My punishment is greater than I can bear. (Torah GEN.4.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/than/#x2)
- And Abimelech said unto Isaac: 'Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.' (Torah GEN.26.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/than/#x3)
- Deeper than the nether-world; what canst thou know? (Writings JOB.11.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/than/#x4)
- Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden. (Writings PRO.27.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/than/#x5)
- Thou lovest evil more than good; falsehood rather than speaking righteousness. (Writings PSA.52.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/than/#x6)

### Note

«than» marks a comparison. «How many more A than B» asks for a difference: subtract, even though it says «more». «A has D more than B» gives A = B + D. «A exceeds B by D» is the same as A = B + D. «not less than 20» means 20 or more. Trap: do not mix up «than» (comparing) and «then» (next, after that).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «than» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/than/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«than» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/than.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «than» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/than/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«than» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/than.html) on Mova free.