Explanation at your level:
You use then to say what happens after something else. Example: 'I eat breakfast, then I go to school.' It is very easy to use! Just put it between two actions. You can also use it to say 'okay' in a conversation, like 'If you are ready, then let's go!'
At this level, you use then to order your daily activities. It helps your listener understand your schedule. You can also use it in 'if-then' sentences. For example: 'If it is sunny, then we will go to the park.' It makes your English sound much more organized and clear.
Intermediate learners use then to narrate stories. It acts as a transition word that keeps your narrative flowing. You will also find it in common phrases like 'now and then' or 'back then.' It is a great way to add detail to your past tense sentences, making your storytelling more engaging for the listener.
At the B2 level, you start using then to show logical progression in arguments. It is common in professional emails or discussions. You might use it to conclude a thought: 'The project is finished; then, we can move to the next phase.' It shows you have a good grasp of discourse markers.
Advanced users employ then to create nuanced logical structures. You might use it in complex sentences to emphasize a consequence. It is also used in literary contexts to describe a past state ('the then-current situation'). Mastering its placement adds a level of sophistication to your writing, helping you avoid repetitive sentence structures.
At the mastery level, you appreciate the subtle historical and stylistic weight of then. You use it to connect complex clauses with precision. In literary analysis, you might discuss the 'then-ness' of a character's perspective. It is a versatile, essential tool that, when used with perfect timing, makes your language feel native and highly polished.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Used for time sequence (next).
- Used for logical consequence (if-then).
- Used as an adjective (the then-president).
- Often confused with 'than'.
Hey there! Then is one of those super-handy words that acts like a bridge in your sentences. Most often, we use it to show time. Think of it as a little arrow pointing forward: 'First this, then that.'
But wait, there's more! It also acts like a logical detective. When you say, 'If it rains, then we stay inside,' you are using it to show cause and effect. It is a small word, but it holds a lot of power in keeping your thoughts organized and easy to follow.
The word then is quite ancient! It comes from the Old English word thænne. Interestingly, it is a close cousin to the word than. In fact, back in the day, they were basically the same word used for both comparison and time.
Over centuries, they split up to take on different jobs. It has roots in Germanic languages, sharing DNA with the German word dann. It is a classic example of how language evolves to be more precise over time, helping us distinguish between 'next in time' and 'comparing two things.'
You will hear then everywhere from casual chats to serious business meetings. In casual speech, it is the go-to for telling stories: 'We ate pizza, then we watched a movie.' It is very informal and natural.
In formal writing, it acts as a logical connector. You might see it in academic papers to link arguments: 'The data suggests a decline; then, we must reconsider our hypothesis.' It is a versatile tool that fits almost any register, provided you use it at the right moment in your sentence structure.
1. Now and then: Meaning occasionally. Example: I go for a run now and then.
2. Then and there: Meaning immediately. Example: He decided to quit then and there.
3. Every now and then: Similar to occasionally. Example: We visit the city every now and then.
4. What then?: A question about the next step. Example: If you lose, what then?
5. Back then: Referring to a specific time in the past. Example: Life was slower back then.
Pronounced /ðɛn/ in both British and American English, this word is a breeze to say. It rhymes with pen, men, ten, hen, and den.
Grammatically, it is usually an adverb. When used as an adjective (e.g., 'the then-president'), it acts as a modifier for a noun, often preceded by a hyphen. Remember, it is not a preposition, so don't use it to compare things—that is what than is for! Keep your 'e' for time and your 'a' for comparison.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'that'.
Pronunciation Guide
Soft 'th' sound followed by a short 'e' and 'n'.
Crisp 'th' with a clear 'e' sound.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing 'th' as 'd'
- Confusing with 'than'
- Dropping the final 'n'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Requires care with 'than'
Simple to pronounce
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Conditional Sentences
If I study, then I pass.
Adverb Placement
Then, he walked away.
Conjunctions
I worked, then I rested.
Examples by Level
I wake up, then I wash.
I wake up, next I wash.
Sequence of events.
Then, we eat.
After that, we eat.
Adverb of time.
Go there, then come back.
Go there, after that return.
Imperative sequence.
Are you ready? Then go!
If ready, then go.
Logical connector.
I read, then I sleep.
I read, after that I sleep.
Daily routine.
First milk, then coffee.
First milk, next coffee.
Sequence.
Then it was night.
After that it was night.
Time transition.
See you then!
See you at that time.
Fixed expression.
I finished my homework, then I played.
If you are hungry, then eat.
He was the then-manager of the shop.
We walked to the park, then home.
I will call you then.
Then, he started to laugh.
She was happy then.
If it rains, then we stay.
Back then, we lived in a small house.
I see him every now and then.
He decided to leave then and there.
If that is the case, then I agree.
We worked hard, and then we rested.
She was the then-owner of the company.
What then? What is the next step?
I remember it clearly back then.
The then-governor signed the bill.
If we accept this, then we must accept that.
Then, and only then, will we be safe.
He was a student then, not a teacher.
We examined the data, then drew conclusions.
If you want success, then work for it.
Then came the storm, destroying everything.
It was then that I realized the truth.
The then-prevailing theory was soon debunked.
If the premise holds, then the conclusion follows.
Then, as if by magic, the door opened.
He was then-employed by the government.
We must act now, not then.
If not now, then when?
The then-current laws were quite strict.
Then, the silence was broken by a shout.
The then-nascent movement gained rapid momentum.
If one were to analyze it, then inconsistencies emerge.
Then, with a flourish, he revealed the answer.
The then-extant records are now lost.
He was then-living in exile.
If logic prevails, then we must agree.
Then, and only then, did he understand.
It was then-customary to bow.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"now and then"
occasionally
I see him now and then.
neutral"then and there"
immediately
He quit then and there.
neutral"every now and then"
from time to time
We go out every now and then.
neutral"then again"
on the other hand
It is hard, but then again, it is fun.
casual"if not then, when?"
a call to action
If we don't fix it now, then when?
rhetorical"back then"
in the past
Things were simpler back then.
neutralEasily Confused
similar sound
than is for comparison, then is for time
He is taller than me; then we left.
similar spelling
there is for location
I went there; then I left.
similar function
when is for specific time, then is for sequence
When I arrived, then I sat down.
similar meaning
next is an adjective/adverb, then is a connector
Next time, then we will see.
Sentence Patterns
If [A], then [B]
If you go, then I go.
Subject + verb, then [verb]
I ate, then slept.
Then + [Subject] + [Verb]
Then he left.
The then-[Noun]
The then-owner was kind.
Just then, [Sentence]
Just then, the bell rang.
Word Family
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Then is for time; than is for comparison.
It helps clarity.
Then is an adverb/conjunction.
Avoids repetition.
Placement affects focus.
Tips
The E-Time Trick
Remember 'Then' has an E like 'Time'.
Sequence Master
Use it to link steps in a process.
Logical Flow
Native speakers use 'if-then' to structure arguments.
Comma Rule
Use a comma after 'then' if it starts a clause.
The TH Sound
Keep your tongue between your teeth.
Than vs Then
Always check for comparisons.
Ancient Roots
It is over 1000 years old!
Sentence Building
Practice 'If X, then Y' daily.
Avoid Repetition
Use 'next' or 'subsequently' as alternatives.
Natural Rhythm
Use it as a bridge in your stories.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Then = Time (both start with T).
Visual Association
A clock ticking forward.
Word Web
Challenge
Write a 3-step recipe using 'then'.
Word Origin
Old English
Original meaning: at that time
Cultural Context
None
Used heavily in storytelling and logic.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at school
- First, study, then play.
- If you finish, then leave.
travel
- Then we go to the hotel.
- If we miss the train, then what?
business
- Review the data, then decide.
- If the price drops, then buy.
daily life
- I'll call you then.
- We'll see then.
Conversation Starters
"What did you do then?"
"If you won the lottery, then what?"
"What was life like back then?"
"If you could travel anywhere, then where?"
"What happens then?"
Journal Prompts
Describe your morning routine using 'then'.
Write about a 'then and there' moment.
Compare your life now to back then.
If you could change one thing, then what would it be?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is an adverb or conjunction.
Then has an E for 'time', Than has an A for 'compare'.
Yes, it is very common.
It can be both formal and informal.
No, it is an invariable word.
Now is the most common opposite.
Yes, in logic proofs.
Yes, e.g., 'See you then'.
Test Yourself
I eat lunch, ___ I go to work.
Then shows sequence.
Which sentence is correct?
If-then is the correct structure.
'Then' is used for comparing two things.
That is the job of 'than'.
Word
Meaning
Idiom matching.
Correct adverb placement.
Score: /5
Summary
Use 'then' for time and logic, but keep it separate from 'than' for comparisons.
- Used for time sequence (next).
- Used for logical consequence (if-then).
- Used as an adjective (the then-president).
- Often confused with 'than'.
The E-Time Trick
Remember 'Then' has an E like 'Time'.
Sequence Master
Use it to link steps in a process.
Logical Flow
Native speakers use 'if-then' to structure arguments.
Comma Rule
Use a comma after 'then' if it starts a clause.
