[Grammar] better than 'before'

[vpkannan]

Hi,

'We can do better than before.'

Is the above sentence correct with the usage of 'better than' followed by 'before'? Usually, (better) than is followed by a noun / pronoun, but here, 'before', an adverb, is used. Is it fine? If so, please explain the sentence structure.

Thanks.

 

[Rover_KE]

Your sentence is fine.

Before can be used in the following ways:
as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): Think carefully before you choose.
as a preposition (followed by a noun): We’ll finish the project before Christmas.
as an adverb (without a following noun): I’d met him once before.

(Macmillan)

 

[tzfujimino]

We can do better than (we could) before.


'we could' is implied.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think 'than' can also sometimes be followed by an adjective, as in 'more dead than alive'.