used to introduce the second element in a comparison

they go out less than they did when they first moved to Paris

Jack doesn't know any more than I do

he's playing better than when he won the title last year

used in expressions introducing an exception or contrast

they observe rather than act

used in expressions indicating one thing happening immediately after another

scarcely was the work completed than it was abandoned

introducing the second element in a comparison

he was much smaller than his son

a single banana is a lot cheaper than a chocolate bar

apart from; except

he claims not to own anything other than his home