Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'than' for comparisons and 'then' for time or sequences.
- Use 'than' when comparing two things: 'A is better than B'.
- Use 'then' when talking about time: 'We ate, then we left'.
- Use 'then' for 'if/then' logic: 'If it rains, then stay inside'.
Overview
than과 then은 마치 '바늘과 실'처럼 항상 붙어 다니면서도, 결정적인 순간에 우리를 당황하게 만드는 대표적인 단어들입니다. 철자 하나 차이(a와 e)에 불과하지만, 이 두 단어는 문장 내에서 수행하는 문법적 역할이 완전히 다릅니다. 원어민들조차 빠른 대화나 비공식적인 글쓰기에서 종종 실수하곤 하지만, B1 수준의 중급 학습자라면 이 둘의 차이를 명확히 구분하여 사용하는 것이 문장의 격을 높이는 핵심입니다.than은 주로 비교급 형용사나 부사 뒤에 위치하여 비교의 기준이 되는 대상을 도입합니다. 한국어에서는 조사 '~보다'가 명사 뒤에 붙지만(사과보다), 영어에서는 than이 명사 앞에 옵니다(than an apple).- 비교급과의 결합:
taller than,more expensive than처럼 형용사의 비교급 형태와 짝을 이룹니다. - 수량 비교:
more than,less than,fewer than과 같이 양이나 수를 비교할 때 필수적입니다. - 선택과 선호:
rather than(~하기보다는 차라리)과 같은 표현에서 대안을 제시할 때 사용됩니다.
then은 시간적인 순서나 특정한 시점, 혹은 인과관계를 나타냅니다. 한국어의 '그리고 나서', '그때', '그렇다면'에 해당합니다.- 시간적 순서: 사건이 일어나는 순서를 나열할 때 사용합니다. (First... then...)
- 특정 시점 지칭: 과거의 어느 시점(
back then)이나 미래의 특정 때를 가리킵니다. - 조건에 따른 결과:
If절과 함께 쓰여 '만약 ~라면, (그러면) ~이다'라는 논리적 귀결을 보여줍니다.
more, -er, rather | first, if, back |- [비교급 형용사/부사] +
than+ [비교 대상] This cafe is quieter than the one we visited yesterday.- (이 카페는 우리가 어제 갔던 곳보다 더 조용해요.)
More/Less/Fewer+ [명사] +than+ [비교 대상]I have more emails to answer than I expected.- (생각했던 것보다 답장해야 할 이메일이 더 많네요.)
Rather than+ [대안]I prefer drinking tea rather than coffee in the evening.- (저는 저녁에 커피보다는 차를 마시는 것을 선호해요.)
Other than+ [명사/동명사]Is there any other way to get there other than taking a taxi?- (택시 타는 것 말고 거기에 갈 다른 방법이 있나요?)
- [사건 1],
then+ [사건 2] We finished the meeting, then we went out for a team dinner.- (회의를 마치고 나서, 우리는 회식을 하러 갔어요.)
If+ [조건], (then) + [결과]If you don't book the tickets now, then you might miss the concert.- (지금 티켓을 예매하지 않으면, 콘서트를 놓치게 될 거예요.)
Back then/By thenLife was much simpler back then.(그때 당시에는 삶이 훨씬 단순했죠.)I will finish the report by then.(그때까지는 보고서를 끝낼게요.)- The
then-+ [직함/신분] The then-CEO of the company decided to invest in AI.- (당시의 그 회사 CEO는 AI에 투자하기로 결정했습니다.)
- 쇼핑할 때 (가성비 비교): 두 제품의 가격이나 성능을 비교할 때 무조건
than입니다. The delivery fee is higher than the price of the food!(배달비가 음식값보다 비싸네요!)- 자신의 실력이나 상태 변화를 말할 때: 과거의 나와 지금의 나를 비교할 때도 쓰입니다.
I can speak English much better than last year.(작년보다 영어를 훨씬 더 잘할 수 있어요.)- 선호도를 표현할 때:
rather than은 비즈니스 미팅이나 일상 대화에서 아주 유용합니다. Let's have the meeting via Zoom rather than in person.(직접 만나기보다는 줌으로 회의합시다.)
- 업무 절차를 설명할 때: 신입 사원에게 업무 순서를 알려줄 때는
then이 길잡이 역할을 합니다. Log in to the system, then upload the file.(시스템에 로그인하고 나서 파일을 업로드하세요.)- 약속 시간을 정할 때: 특정 시간대를 언급하며 '그때 보자'라고 할 때 쓰입니다.
I'll be at the cafe at 3 PM. See you then!(3시에 카페에 있을게요. 그때 봐요!)- 인과관계를 강조할 때: 상대방의 말에 '그렇다면~'이라고 반응할 때 필수적입니다.
You're tired? Then you should take a rest.(피곤하다고요? 그러면 좀 쉬어야겠네요.)
then을 쓰는 경우- 잘못된 예:
He is older then me.(X) - 올바른 예:
He is older than me.(O) - 이유: 한국어에서는 'ㅐ'와 'ㅔ'의 발음 구분이 모호해지는 경향이 있습니다.
than(/ðæn/)과then(/ðɛn/)의 모음 차이를 인지하지 못하고, 익숙한then을 써버리는 것이죠. 비교급(-er, more)이 나오면 무조건than이 와야 한다는 것을 기계적으로라도 기억해야 합니다.
than을 쓰는 경우- 잘못된 예:
I ate lunch, than I went to the library.(X) - 올바른 예:
I ate lunch, then I went to the library.(O) - 이유: 학습자가 '비교'와 '순서'의 개념을 혼동할 때 발생합니다. 문장에서 'A 한 다음 B 했다'는 시간의 흐름을 나타낼 때는
then입니다.than은 앞뒤의 대상을 비교할 때만 씁니다.
Rather then이라고 잘못 쓰는 경우- 잘못된 예:
I'd rather stay home then go out.(X) - 올바른 예:
I'd rather stay home than go out.(O) - 이유:
rather than은 하나의 고정된 표현입니다. 'A 하기보다(비교) B 하겠다'는 의미이므로 비교의than이 들어가는 것이 논리적으로 맞습니다.
than과 then 외에도 혼동하기 쉬운 시간/비교 표현들과 비교해 보겠습니다.different from처럼 차이점을 말할 때 쓰임 (미국 영어에선 different than도 쓰지만 from이 더 정석) |then보다 더 막연한 미래나 나중의 시점을 의미함 |After lunch) |A is different from B라고 합니다. 하지만 최근 미국 영어에서는 different than도 흔히 쓰입니다. 다만, 격식 있는 글쓰기에서는 different from을 권장합니다. 반면, 비교급(more, -er) 뒤에는 절대 from을 쓸 수 없고 반드시 than을 써야 합니다.then은 부사라서 단독으로 '그다음에'라는 뜻을 갖지만, after는 전치사나 접속사로 쓰여 뒤에 대상이 와야 합니다. After then이라는 표현은 잘 쓰지 않으며, 대신 After that 혹은 단순히 Then을 사용합니다.than 뒤에는 주격을 써야 하나요, 목적격을 써야 하나요?than me)을 훨씬 많이 씁니다. 하지만 격식 있는 문장이나 시험에서는 than I (am)처럼 주격과 동사를 맞추는 것이 정석입니다. B1 수준에서는 둘 다 이해하되, 대화할 때는 편하게 목적격을 쓰셔도 무방합니다.If... then... 문장에서 then을 생략해도 되나요?If you are hungry, eat something.처럼 then을 생략하는 경우가 매우 많습니다. 하지만 논리적 결과를 강조하고 싶을 때는 then을 넣어주는 것이 문장을 더 명확하게 만듭니다.then이 형용사로 쓰일 때 하이픈(-)은 꼭 넣어야 하나요?the then-president처럼 명사 앞에서 '당시의'라는 뜻으로 쓰일 때는 하이픈을 넣어주는 것이 원칙입니다. 이는 then이 부사가 아니라 형용사 역할을 하고 있음을 명시적으로 보여주기 위함입니다.than은 입을 더 크게 벌리는 '애(/æ/)' 소리에 가깝고, then은 입을 덜 벌리는 '에(/ɛ/)' 소리에 가깝습니다. 하지만 원어민들도 빨리 말할 때는 거의 비슷하게 들리므로, 소리보다는 문장 안에서 비교급이 있는지, 아니면 시간 순서를 말하고 있는지를 통해 문맥으로 파악하는 것이 가장 정확합니다.Comparison vs. Sequence
| Function | Word | Typical Preceding Word | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Comparison
|
than
|
Comparative (Better/More)
|
Faster than a car
|
|
Time Sequence
|
then
|
First action
|
I ate, then I slept
|
|
Logical Result
|
then
|
If-clause
|
If you win, then you get a prize
|
|
Past Time
|
then
|
Preposition (Since/Back)
|
Back then, we were kids
|
Meanings
The distinction between 'than' (a conjunction used for comparisons) and 'then' (an adverb used to indicate time or consequence).
Comparison (Than)
Used to introduce the second element in a comparison.
“She is taller than her brother.”
“I have more than five dollars.”
Time Sequence (Then)
Used to indicate what happens next in a series of events.
“We went to the park, then we had lunch.”
“Finish your work, then you can play.”
Logical Consequence (Then)
Used in conditional 'if... then' structures.
“If you are tired, then go to sleep.”
“If 2+2 is 4, then 4-2 is 2.”
Reference Table
| 단어 | 기능 | 예시 문장 |
|---|---|---|
|
`than`
|
비교
|
This episode is better `than` the last one.
|
|
`then`
|
시간 / 순서
|
First we'll eat, `then` we'll watch the movie.
|
|
`than`
|
비교
|
She has more experience `than` the other candidates.
|
|
`then`
|
결과 (If... then...)
|
If it rains, `then` the picnic is cancelled.
|
|
`than`
|
비교 ('rather'와 함께)
|
I'd rather have coffee `than` tea.
|
|
`then`
|
특정 시간 언급
|
I wasn't ready `then`, but I am now.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
I should prefer tea rather than coffee. (ordering drinks)
I like tea more than coffee. (ordering drinks)
Tea's better than coffee. (ordering drinks)
Tea over coffee any day. (ordering drinks)
Than vs. Then: 대결
어떤 것을 사용해야 할까요?
두 가지를 비교하고 있나요?
시간, 순서 또는 연속에 대해 이야기하고 있나요?
Than과 Then의 세계
THAN (비교)
- Taller than comparison
- More than comparison
- Rather than preference
THEN (시간/순서)
- First..., then... sequence
- Back then past time
- If..., then... consequence
Than과 Then의 역할
`Than`의 역할
- • 가격 비교
- • 선호도 진술
- • 옵션 순위 매기기
`Then`의 역할
- • 지시 사항 전달
- • 이야기하기
- • 결과 나열
수준별 예문
He is taller than me.
He is taller than me.
I like apples more than oranges.
I like apples more than oranges.
I wash my hands, then I eat.
I wash my hands, then I eat.
See you then!
See you then!
This book is better than the movie.
This book is better than the movie.
It costs more than ten dollars.
It costs more than ten dollars.
We went to Paris, then to Rome.
We went to Paris, then to Rome.
If you are ready, then let's go.
If you are ready, then let's go.
I would rather stay home than go out tonight.
I would rather stay home than go out tonight.
There were more people than we expected.
There were more people than we expected.
Check the oil, then start the engine.
Check the oil, then start the engine.
He was much younger then.
He was much younger then.
The solution was more complex than it first appeared.
The solution was more complex than it first appeared.
No sooner had I arrived than the phone rang.
No sooner had I arrived than the phone rang.
If the results are inconclusive, then we must repeat the test.
If the results are inconclusive, then we must repeat the test.
But then again, we could just wait.
But then again, we could just wait.
The policy did more harm than good in the long run.
The policy did more harm than good in the long run.
Other than a few scratches, the car was fine.
Other than a few scratches, the car was fine.
The then-president signed the decree in 1994.
The then-president signed the decree in 1994.
Well, what are you waiting for then?
Well, what are you waiting for then?
Rarely has a man been more misunderstood than he.
Rarely has a man been more misunderstood than he.
The implications are more far-reaching than one might suppose.
The implications are more far-reaching than one might suppose.
Since then, the landscape has changed irrevocably.
Since then, the landscape has changed irrevocably.
If such be the case, then we are truly lost.
If such be the case, then we are truly lost.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners sometimes say 'different than' instead of 'different from'.
The phrase 'No sooner had I...' must be followed by 'than', but people often use 'when' or 'then'.
Both can show consequence, but 'so' is a conjunction and 'then' is an adverb.
자주 하는 실수
He is bigger then me.
He is bigger than me.
I eat than I sleep.
I eat then I sleep.
More then five.
More than five.
Better then ever.
Better than ever.
First I go, than you go.
First I go, then you go.
I'd rather walk then run.
I'd rather walk than run.
If you win, than I pay.
If you win, then I pay.
No other then him.
No other than him.
Since than, I am sad.
Since then, I am sad.
More then likely.
More than likely.
The then-than president.
The then-president.
문장 패턴
I like ___ more than ___.
First, ___, and then ___.
It was more ___ than I thought.
If ___, then ___.
Real World Usage
This laptop is faster than the one I have.
Whisk the eggs, then add the flour.
I have more than five years of experience in this field.
See u then!
The train is cheaper than the bus, but then we have to walk.
If the temperature rises, then the ice melts.
'A'와 'E' 트릭
맞춤법 검사기가 도와주지 않아요
'Now and Then'
명확함은 전문성이에요
Smart Tips
Check if you can replace the word with 'compared to'. If you can, use 'than'.
The second part of the sentence will almost always use 'then' (or an implied 'then').
Use 'then' to move the reader to the next step.
It is almost always followed by 'than'.
발음
The Schwa Effect
In normal conversation, both 'than' and 'then' are unstressed and sound like /ðən/. You must rely on context to understand which is being used.
Stressed 'Then'
When 'then' is at the end of a sentence or used for emphasis, the 'E' sound is clear.
Stressed 'Than'
When 'than' is stressed (rarely), it has a clear 'A' sound like 'apple'.
Sequence Intonation
First this (rise), then that (fall).
Shows a list of actions.
암기하기
기억법
ThAn is for compArison (both have 'A'). ThEn is for timE (both have 'E').
시각적 연상
Imagine a giant letter 'A' acting as a balance scale between two objects (Comparison). Imagine a letter 'E' as a set of stairs leading from one event to the next (Time).
Rhyme
When you compare, 'than' is there. When time is the key, use the one with an 'e'.
Story
I wanted more THAN a sandwich. I went to the kitchen, THEN I made a feast. I ate it all, and THEN I felt better THAN before.
Word Web
챌린지
Write three sentences about your morning routine using 'then', and three sentences comparing your hometown to your current city using 'than'.
문화 노트
Mixing these up in writing is often seen as a sign of poor education or 'internet speak'. It is a very common 'pet peeve' for teachers and employers.
The word 'then' is frequently added to the end of questions to add a friendly or inquisitive tone, often without a specific 'time' meaning.
In some dialects, 'than' and 'then' are pronounced identically, making the written distinction even harder for native speakers in these regions.
Both words derive from the same Old English word 'þanne' or 'þænne'.
대화 시작하기
Would you rather live in a very cold place or a very hot place? Why?
Tell me about your perfect morning. What do you do first, and what then?
Is learning English harder than you expected?
If you could change one thing about your city, what would it be and what would happen then?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
This coffee tastes much better ___ the one I had yesterday.
Choose the correct sentence:
Find and fix the mistake:
My brother is older then me.
Score: /3
연습 문제
8 exercisesShe is much better at math ___ I am.
We went to the cinema, and ___ we went for pizza.
Find and fix the mistake:
I would rather travel by train then fly.
I will finish my homework, ___ I will call you.
You should use 'than' after the word 'more'.
A: Is your new car faster? B: Yes, it's much faster ___ my old one.
Which word is used for time?
If you are tired...
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesI would rather read a book ___ watch that TV show.
Finish your homework, and ___ you can play video games.
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose the correct sentence:
He has more followers on Instagram then his friend.
If you are tired, than you should rest.
Translate into English: 'El plan A es más seguro que el plan B.'
Translate into English: 'Termina tu cena, y luego puedes comer postre.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the sentence parts:
The instructions were more complicated ___ I expected.
Score: /12
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
While people will understand you, it is still considered a mistake. It is better to use `than` to build good habits.
In English, unstressed vowels often turn into a 'schwa' sound (/ə/). This makes `than` and `then` sound nearly identical in fast speech.
It is always `more than` when comparing quantities or qualities.
You use it to mean 'in that case' or 'at that time'. For example: 'I'll see you `then`!'
No, the correct phrase is always `rather than`.
This is an advanced use where `then` acts like an adjective meaning 'at that time'. It refers to someone who was president in the past.
Rarely. It usually only happens in poetic or very formal inversions, like 'Than him, no one was more brave.'
Remember: Th**a**n = Comp**a**rison. Th**e**n = Tim**e**.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
que / entonces
Spanish doesn't have two words that sound almost identical for these two functions.
que / alors
The temporal 'then' has multiple distinct translations in French depending on the type of sequence.
als / dann
The word 'dann' sounds like 'than' but means 'then'.
yori / sorekara
Japanese grammar doesn't use conjunctions in the same position as English.
min / thumma
Arabic uses a preposition for comparison where English uses a conjunction.
bǐ / ránhòu
Chinese comparison structure (A bǐ B adjective) is completely different from English.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
관련 동영상
01:28 THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE "Rosalina" Clips + Trailers (2026)
14:37 Wealthy English aristocrats insist on their relevance in modern society | 60 Minutes Australia
02:18 Stream Live Channels From US, UK, Germany & Spain FREE on Firestick!
than과 then의 차이점 (영어 문법)
영어문법연구소
Than vs Then: 헷갈리는 영어 표현 완벽 정리
영어회화 꿀팁
Related Grammar Rules
방언 대 언어: 차이점은 무엇인가요?
### Overview 우리가 영어를 배울 때 흔히 마주치는 질문 중 하나가 바로 "이건 사투리인가요, 아니면 다른 언어인가요?"라는...
Nowadays vs. Now-a-days: 차이점은 무엇인가요?
### Overview 언어는 살아있는 생명체와 같아서 시간이 흐르면서 그 형태와 쓰임새가 끊임없이 변하곤 합니다. 오늘 우리가 함...
Let them vs. Let they: 차이점이 무엇인가요?
### Overview 영어 학습을 하다 보면 `let them`과 `let they` 중 어떤 것이 맞는지 헷갈릴 때가 있습니다. 결론부터 말씀드리...
Quite vs. Quiet: 차이점이 무엇인가요?
### Overview 영어 학습의 여정에서 우리 한국인 학습자들을 가장 당혹스럽게 만드는 것 중 하나는 바로 '비슷하게 생겼지만 완...
Said vs. Told: 차이점이 무엇인가요?
### Overview 영어를 배우는 한국인 학습자들에게 `say`와 `tell`은 마치 '숙명적인 라이벌'과 같습니다. 우리말로는 둘 다 단...
