[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/then.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / then

[← T](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/T/)

# then

«then» in Mova's school dictionary: **next, after that** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adverb; adjective (the then teacher — rare)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Then means next, after that. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#m1)

2) Then means at that time in the past or future: «I was little then». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#m2)

3) Then means «so» or «in that case»: «If it rains, then we stay in». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#m3)

4) (casual) «Then» at the end of a question means «so»: «How many he got left then?», «Right then, let's go». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#m4)

5) (casual) «then» is often typed «than» by mistake. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#m5)

6) (formal) Exams say «subsequently», «thereafter», «thereupon», «at that time» and «in which case». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#m6)

### sense in the lessons

the next step or event in the story; in maths it orders the steps: first … then …; «if … then …» gives a rule; phrases: «and then», «just then», «by then», «now and then», «since then», «but then»; in casual talk «right then», «go on then», «what then?», «then like»; in rough talk «go on then, try it» (a dare or a challenge); in the exam voice «subsequently», «thereafter», «whereupon»

### examples

- Max found 1 book and then found 1 more. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x1)
- Anna had 8 stickers, then she gave 3 away. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x2)
- First add the tens, then add the ones. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x3)
- If a number ends in 0, then it can be divided by 10. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x4)
- We lived in Ireland then. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x5)
- Just then, the bell rang. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x6)
- By then, the snow had melted. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x7)
- So how many he got left then? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x8)
- Right then, 4 each, let's go. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x9)
- Go on then, eat it, see if I care. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x10)
- A merchant acquired 20 units and subsequently disposed of 7. Thereafter he acquired 5. State the final holding. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x11)
- Now and then we get pizza. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x12)
- And then a strange thing happened. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/#x13)

### note

Marks a second event in order; the verb that follows decides the operation. Trap: do not mix up «then» (time, next) and «than» (comparing): «bigger than», not «bigger then». «subsequently» and «thereafter» in an exam mean then, after that. «then» at the end of a casual question adds nothing to the numbers.

### In the corpora

- [Then they choose the cheap fun: a picnic and a library trip instead of the cinema.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/9-when-money-is-tight/6/)
- [They share memories, sing or pray, and then the body is buried or cremated.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/25-funerals-and-remembering/1/)
- [Many people pay every month for a gym and then stop going, because starting a habit is easy and keeping it is hard.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/29-screens-diets-sofas-and-late-nights/11/)
- [Then she told the world herself, in a video, that she had cancer and was having chemotherapy.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/45-the-royal-family-in-the-news-a-queens-death-a-coronation-titles-lost-and-illnesses-announced/2/)
- [Then it stays between you two, bro."](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/50-rumours-about-classmates-and-secrets/5/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «then» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/then/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.