"Whenever" and "Seen"

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Spelling IS important - some of us are trying to learn here!! One of these PT Spelling threads even made it into/in to? "Thread of the year"!

I do make some blunders myself, no doubt, but I don't understand how anyone can mix up "then" and "than".

Guilty....... I don't understand the difference, so could someone please explain this to me??
Something else is this: Preacher'smom wrote this: "it drives me crazy to see " 's" at the end of a word to make it plural. An apostrophe and the letter "s" shows ownership."
I need info on this too.....

I'm really trying to write as less mistakes as possible, but I cannot help writing mistakes.... . I left school 30 years ago, and English is only my 3rd language.....
Please everybody, remember that not ALL members here have English as mothertongue...

[Randi]

Lut, if you look up the words "then" and "than" in your dictionary, you will see it's two different words. "Then" is when you say: Bernard planted some flowers in the garden, then he put the tools away and went inside for a cup of coffee.

"Than" is used when you say: The red flowers are prettier than the yellow.

Here are some more examples from another thread:

Then = at that time. As in "I was still in school then." Or "Come at noon; I'll be ready then."
Next in time, space, or order; immediately afterward. As in "I watched the late movie and then went to bed."
In addition; moreover; besides. As in "It costs $20, and then there's the sales tax to pay."
Used after but to qualify or balance a preceding statement. As in "The star was nervous, but then who isn't on the first night of a new play."
In that case; accordingly. As in "If traffic is heavy, then allow extra time."
As a consequence; therefore. As in "The case, then, is closed."

Than: Used after a comparative adjective or adverb to introduce the second element or clause of an unequal comparison. As in "She is a better athlete than I."
Used to introduce the second element after certain words indicating difference. As in "He draws quite differently than she does."

This is another good example:

One pet with many toys: "the animal's toys"
More than one pet with many toys: "the animals' toys"


And a good link:

http://www.dreaded-apostrophe.com/

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Lut, if you look up the words "then" and "than" in your dictionary, you will see it's two different words. "Then" is when you say: Bernard planted some flowers in the garden, then he put the tools away and went inside for a cup of coffee.

"Than" is used when you say: The red flowers are prettier than the yellow.

I'm pretty sure when people mix up "then" and "than" in written language it is a spelling error. These two words are pronounced almost identically in many parts of the country, so someone could mean "than" but write "then" because they sound the same!

I also wanted to add that all of the people who post on PT with English as a second language are quite good at it! I think it's quite impressive. I wish we took bilingual education more seriously in this country.

[Randi]

OK, here's a new question.... is it "a large group of people" or "a big group of people"?

[Cataholic]

OK, here's a new question.... is it "a large group of people" or "a big group of people"?

If you are referring to the number of people present....it would be a large group of people.

[Randi]

Thanks! And yes, I am - speaking/talking to them, as in teaching.

[redbird]

OK, here's a new question.... is it "a large group of people" or "a big group of people"?

A large group of people would be correct, a big group of people would mean the people are of great size.

[Randi]

... a big group of people would mean the people are of great size.

Wouldn't that be a group of big people?

[caseysmom]

Wouldn't that be a group of big people?

Yes you are correct.

[phesina]

I'm really trying to write as less mistakes as possible, but I cannot help writing mistakes.... . I left school 30 years ago, and English is only my 3rd language.....
Please everybody, remember that not ALL members here have English as mothertongue...

Lut, you are another one who speaks/writes English beautifully! I know only a few words of French and nothing of Dutch?/Flemish?/whatever else you speak there..

All of you PT folks whose first language is not English do a beautiful job using it and keeping up with the discussions here and participating in them!!!

[Randi]

Ok, I've got to ask this, concerning the below text:
"I'm really trying to write as less mistakes as possible"

Should it be: "I'm really trying to write as few mistakes as possible" (this is what I think is right)

or... "I'm really trying to write as little mistakes as possible"

[kokopup]

"I'm really trying to write as few mistakes as possible"

Or you might say

When writing I try to make as few mistakes as possible.

[Randi]

Thanks Kokopup, that's what I thought.