dan (than) or als (as)? The quick comparison rule

Deze tas is duurder dan die. (This bag is more expensive than that one.) Deze tas is even duur als die. (This bag is as expensive as that one.) For exams and edited writing, choose the linking word from the Dutch pattern in front of it.

Use dan (than) after a comparative and after ander, andere, or anders (other or different). Use als (as) after even (equally), (net) zo (as or just as), dezelfde or hetzelfde (the same), and eenzelfde (the same kind of).

1. Look for a comparative. It often ends in -er, as in groter (bigger), but forms such as meer (more), minder (less), and beter (better) count too. Choose dan.
2. If there is no comparative, look for a fixed signal. Choose dan after ander, andere, or anders. Choose als after even, (net) zo, dezelfde, hetzelfde, or eenzelfde.

Suriname is vier keer zo groot als Nederland. (Suriname is four times as big as the Netherlands.) This comparison does not describe equal sizes, but it still uses als because it has the zo ... als pattern. People sometimes learn “dan for inequality, als for equality.” That shortcut often works, but the signal word is safer. Negation does not change the choice either: niet zo groot als (not as big as) still takes als.

For an exam or edited text, write groter dan (bigger than), beter dan (better than), and meer dan (more than). You may hear groter als. This form has existed for centuries. It is common in speech and in some regions. Some reference grammars describe how people actually use Dutch, so they record both dan and als after comparatives. Current guidance for edited Dutch prefers dan.

Hij is ouder dan ik. (He is older than I am.) The full omitted clause is dan ik ben (than I am). In that clause, ik is the subject. An object form can be correct when the pronoun remains an object, so do not turn this into an “always use ik or jij” rule.

This quick page only helps you choose the linking word. For pronouns, full clauses, and more comparison patterns, continue with the full guide to dan and als. To form words such as groter, beter, and minder, see comparatives and superlatives.