When is the word "than" not used?

The use of "than" typically occurs when making comparisons between two or more entities or actions. In the context of the statement regarding the actions of a single individual, there is generally no comparison being made that necessitates the use of "than."

For example, if one states that "John runs faster," there is no comparison of John's actions to another person's performance, hence "than" does not apply here since there is no contrasting element to compare to. The focus is solely on John’s speed without needing to reference another subject for comparison.

The other options involve scenarios where comparisons are either present or implied, making "than" relevant in those situations. Thus, the specific case where "than" is not used aligns correctly with the idea of discussing singular actions without comparisons.