Words Students Confuse - that and than

ScottsEnglish

Students often confuse the words 'that' and 'than'

That has three usages in English. Determiner - That book is the one we are using in class. As a relative pronoun in a clause - This is the book that we will be using this year. As a conjunction - It was so hot that we had to buy a room air conditioner.

Than is used for comparisons. Examples: She is stronger than her sister. Technology makes life easier today than twenty years ago. I like this dish better than that one.

Now, put either 'that' or 'than' in the following sentences.

1. Obviously Russia is a larger country ______________ Belgium.
2. She cannot eat ______________ cake because she is allergic to nuts.
3. The movie ________________ we went to see was excellent.
4. Some people's lives are harder __________________ other people's.
5. Here is the magazine _______________ you were looking for!

Click here for the correct answers.

1. Obviously Russia is a larger country than Belgium.
2. She cannot eat that cake because she is allergic to nuts.
3. The movie that we went to see was excellent.
4. Some people's lives are harder than other people's.
5. Here is the magazine that you were looking for!