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Guest Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
"Then" verses "Than"
0 As a college student, I expect those of authority or instruction to be knowledgable in basic grammar. However, I am dissapointed to discover that they are insistant upon the usage of "than" when I was taught it should be "then". I do not claim to be a grammar/spelling genius but as I have never been corrected by English teacher while growing up when using similar sentances I figured I needed to research. I stumbled on this site as a result. The example I am about to give is just one of a handful. Please correct me if I am wrong and they are right. 02 br
02 br
00 "....after getting your GED, than you must not miss out on this event!" 02 br
02 br
00 When I originally wrote this for them it read, "...after getting your GED, then you must not miss out on this event!" 02 br
02 br
00 I was corrected that it should be "than" I scoffed and asked why and was told something about denoting time. It was their poster (I'm a design student) so I didn't argue. 02 br
02 br
00 Please, am I right or are they by way of using an obsure meaning I haven't found. My research led me to believe "than" is used primarily for comparison. They are not comparing the GED with the event, so I believe it should have been "then". Besides, as all well written grammar behaves -- it just sounds better! 0-
02 br
00 "....after getting your GED, than you must not miss out on this event!" 02 br
02 br
00 When I originally wrote this for them it read, "...after getting your GED, then you must not miss out on this event!" 02 br
02 br
00 I was corrected that it should be "than" I scoffed and asked why and was told something about denoting time. It was their poster (I'm a design student) so I didn't argue. 02 br
02 br
00 Please, am I right or are they by way of using an obsure meaning I haven't found. My research led me to believe "than" is used primarily for comparison. They are not comparing the GED with the event, so I believe it should have been "then". Besides, as all well written grammar behaves -- it just sounds better! 0-
Top answer
0 Hello, 02 br 02 br 00 You are right, but it probably won't do you much good arguing with your tutors! 0-
- 0 Hello, 02 br 02 br 00 You are right, but it probably won't do you much good arguing with your tutors!
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2 Answers
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0 Hello, 02 br
02 br
00 You are right, but it probably won't do you much good arguing with your tutors! 0-
02 br
00 You are right, but it probably won't do you much good arguing with your tutors! 0-
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0 The conjunctive "than" originally came from the adverb "then". 02 br
00 It was only 500 years ago when two words got separated in English. 02 br
00 So, in Dutch, for example, "dan" still now means both "than" and "then". 02 br
02 br
00 The way the adverb "then" changed into the conjunctive "than" is like this; 02 br
00 Bill is taller; then
00 It was only 500 years ago when two words got separated in English. 02 br
00 So, in Dutch, for example, "dan" still now means both "than" and "then". 02 br
02 br
00 The way the adverb "then" changed into the conjunctive "than" is like this; 02 br
00 Bill is taller; then
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