Than

Question

When should I use 'than' as a preposition and when as a conjunction? For instance:

e.g. Is there a better way of improving your English than read/reading/to read. (what's the difference between the bare infinitive and the infinitive regarding their usage)

Dimsumexpress · Accepted Answer

allthewayanimeIs there a better way of improving your English than read/reading/to read.

Hi,
Personally, there really is no known guidelines or rules. A lot of it depends on how the perspective sentence sounds with the context. With the above gerund construct, which is not wrong, I think the infinitive / gerund construct is a better choice: "Is there a better way [to improve] our English than reading" , simply based on what flows better and sounds more idiomatic to the ears.

allthewayanimeWhen should I use 'than' as a preposition and when as a conjunction? For instance:

This may help:

World English Dictionary

than (ðæn, ( unstressed ) ð?n)

— *conj* , — *prep*
1.	used to introduce the second element of a comparison, the first element of which expresses difference: shorter than you ; couldn't do otherwise than love him ; he swims faster than I run
2.	used after adverbs such as rather or sooner to introduce a rejected alternative in an expression of preference: rather than be imprisoned, I shall die
3.	other than besides; in addition to

usage In formal English, than is usually regarded as a conjunction governing an unexpressed verb: he does it far better than I ( do ). The case of any pronoun therefore depends on whether it is the subject or object of the unexpressed verb: she likes him more than I ( like him ); she likes him more than ( she likes ) me . However in ordinary speech and writing than is usually treated as a preposition and is followed by the object form of a pronoun: my brother is younger than me

Than

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