[Grammar] "the biggest tax cuts…that we've ever…" or "the biggest tax cuts…than we've ever…"

[emp0608]

"the biggest tax cuts…that we've ever…" or "the biggest tax cuts…than we've ever…"

Hi folks,

Is Hillary saying, "…the biggest tax cuts…that we've ever had" or "…the biggest tax cuts…than we've ever had" in the presidential debate? I've found "than" in some transcripts.

http://heavy.com/news/2016/09/hilla...rumped-up-trickle-down-state-debate-tax-plan/

emp0608

 

[emp0608]

Re: "the biggest tax cuts…that we've ever…" or "the biggest tax cuts…than we've ever…

Thanks, Piscean.
Do you think some native speakers might use 'than' mistakenly?
One of the Japanese leading newspapers quoted Hillary as saying, "…the biggest tax cuts…than we've ever had." I emailed them to point out that it should be 'that', but they emailed me back, saying that their native consultants confirmed that both 'that' and 'than' are accepted. I think they should fire those consultants immediately. What do you think?

 

[GoesStation]

Re: "the biggest tax cuts…that we've ever…" or "the biggest tax cuts…than we've ever…

She definitely says that. We Americans don't enunciate the final t very clearly; we replace /t/ with a brief glottal stop. I'm sure it can be challenging for English learners to hear this.

 

[jutfrank]

Re: "the biggest tax cuts…that we've ever…" or "the biggest tax cuts…than we've ever…

There's no way she says than. As post #4 points out, the only vaguely possible way she might make this mistake is if she thought she had said bigger instead of the biggest, but this is well-prepared language and the superlative (the biggest) nature of what she is saying is crucial to the point she's making.

Yes, those consultants should be fired immediately! Or at the very least get a severe pay cut.

 

[emp0608]

Re: "the biggest tax cuts…that we've ever…" or "the biggest tax cuts…than we've ever…

Thanks, jutfrank. I'd settle for a severe pay cut.