[Grammar] than

[Lynn Floyd]

Which sentence is better?
1. He is taller than I.
2. He is taller than me.

 

[TheParser]

Which sentence is better?
1. He is taller than I.
2. He is taller than me.

***NOT A TEACHER*** Wow! Get ready for a heated discussion. (1) He is taller than I. = In the opinion of some people, this is the "correct" answer. In university-level writing, you would be wise to follow the "rule." (2) He is taller than me. = The way 90% of Americans speak and write. Furthermore, younger people may be "afraid" to use the first sentence because (a) they don't know the "rule" or (2) they want to fit in with the group. Good luck! (P.S. I said 90%. Maybe I should have said 99%?)

 

[Kondorosi]

Which sentence is better?
1. He is taller than I.
2. He is taller than me.

My understanding is:

'than' may function either as a preposition or a conjunction (linking claues).

He is taller than me. -- than = prep. --> accusative = me
He is taller than I am. -- than = conjunction
He is taller than I. :cross:

 

[Kondorosi]

Wow! Get ready for a heated discussion.

I will not play that game. I put in my two cents' and leave. It spares my feelings and also that of others'. ;-)

 

[TheParser]

I will not play that game. I put in my two cents' and leave. It spares my feelings and also that of others'. ;-)

***NOT A TEACHER*** "Get ready for a heated discussion" is friendly, not hostile, advice to the questioner. That's how most native speakers mean it.

 

[Kondorosi]

***NOT A TEACHER*** "Get ready for a heated discussion" is friendly, not hostile, advice to the questioner. That's how most native speakers mean it.

Well, my experience I gathered here tells otherwise. ;-)
A heated discussion at UE means macabre manslaughter. Shall I dig up some old threads? :-D

 

[TheParser]

Well, my experience I gathered here tells otherwise. ;-)
A heated discussion at UE means macabre manslaughter. Shall I dig up some old threads? :-D

I guess it means different things to different people. I am always courteous, respectful, and humble in discussing language. Perhaps I forgot that some people are not. I shall not use that term again. :-D

 

[Kondorosi]

I am always courteous, respectful, and humble in discussing language.

I am one stark raving mad. :-D

 

[Nightmare85]

Not a teacher.

I fully agree:
He is taller than me. :tick:
He is taller than I am. :tick:
He is taller than I.:cross:
(I what?? ;-))

Cheers!

 

[Lynn Floyd]

Thank you all. I feel that Nightmare's reply answers the question best. I'm not sure that something is correct just because most people do it or that it is accepted, but I also realize that language is always in the process of evolution. I suppose that everyone has their opinion.