[Grammar] What who

[qiye3322]

Is there any difference between the following sentence: I am what I am ;I am who I am.

thank you in advance!!!

 

[emsr2d2]

Is there any difference between the following sentences:

I am what I am
I am who I am.

Thank you in advance. strike]!!![/strike]

When people say these phrases, they probably intend the same meaning. However, the nuance of difference could be:

I am what I am = What I am is a human being
I am who I am = I am the person I am, with my individual personality and characteristics.

 

[qiye3322]

When people say these phrases, they probably intend the same meaning. However, the nuance of difference could be:

I am what I am = What I am is a human being
I am who I am = I am the person I am, with my individual personality and characteristics.

How about I am that I am?

 

[Jaskin]

Hi,
Please note I'm not a teacher nor a native speaker,

If I heard that from someone I would presume some sort of delusion of grandiose.

Cheers

 

[MikeNewYork]

I assume you meant "delusions of grandiosity". I disagree. Those sentences would often be said by someone who is saying "Take me as I am."

 

[lotus888]

That's right, take me as I am.



--lotus

 

[MikeNewYork]

Good old Popeye!

 

[Jaskin]

Hi,
Please note I'm not a teacher nor a native speaker.

I assume you meant "delusions of grandiosity". I disagree. Those sentences would often be said by someone who is saying "Take me as I am."

Yes I meant grandiosity, though my comment was just to post

How about I am that I am?

not to all the sentences. And all I was alluding to was the precise wording that would be mainly associated with biblical language in particular with the way God presented himself to Moses.
Cheers.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I don't think God was involved. Popeye is more possible.

 

[Jaskin]

Hi,
Please note I'm not a teacher nor a native speaker.

Yes you're right God was not involved, only the rendering of Hebrew Bible into English; but I doubt Popeye got anything to do with it.

Cheers.

 

[lotus888]

The phrase "I am that I am" is in fact in the bible (Exodus 3:14, when Moses spoke to God at the burning bush) and would have a biblical connotation. It's not a phrase often heard in normal conversation. So yes, one might reply in jest or have delusions of grandeur by saying so.

My best definition for the phrase would be "I am exactly who I am and what you perceive me to be."

Others may interpret it as "I am exactly who I am -- immutable and omnipotent."




--lotus

 

[emsr2d2]

Many phrases have many origins. That doesn't mean they're relevant and it doesn't mean the hearer will have any idea where they're from. If someone asked me the origin of "I am that I am", I would have no idea. If they told me it was biblical, it would make no difference. What matters is how someone uses it.

"I am what I am" and "I am who I am" are far more common than "I am that I am". I have never heard anyone say the latter.