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I truly hope people say things like that for the shock value. Otherwise....
That's one I haven't heard in a long time. And yes, the phrase was meant for emphasis; using the past form implies that we're in such a hurry we should have left already.
I was taught that if you can complete the sentence, i.e. "he is taller than I (am tall)" it's correct. No one would say, "he is taller than me (am tall)".
When using "me" as an object in the second example, there is no sentence to "complete" -- it's already complete with no implied completion needed. Both "than I" and "than me" are acceptable depending on whether you regard "than" as a conjunction or a preposition.
I'm a tolerant man. I'm not the Spelling Police or the Grammar Police. I can overlook many things with a smile and loving understanding. But I cannot, I will not, stay silent when someone says, 'conversate.' Call me rude. Call me a snob. Call me a troll, but I hate that non-word with a passion that burns deep within my soul and has the red hot intensity of two thousand burning suns.
You might be thinking of phrases such as, "She likes ice cream better than me," which is correct if one means that she likes ice cream better than she likes me. "She likes ice cream better than I" would be correct if one means she likes ice cream better than I like ice cream.
In this case, "He's taller than I" is the correct usage (although few people say this anymore). He is not taller than me, since me can't be taller than anyone.
No, I'm thinking of what I said. It's a matter of personal preference. I thought I explained it pretty well. If not, Drover did a good job:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drover
Both "than I" and "than me" are acceptable depending on whether you regard "than" as a conjunction or a preposition.
I'm a tolerant man. I'm not the Spelling Police or the Grammar Police. I can overlook many things with a smile and loving understanding. But I cannot, I will not, stay silent when someone says, 'conversate.' Call me rude. Call me a snob. Call me a troll, but I hate that non-word with a passion that burns deep within my soul and has the red hot intensity of two thousand burning suns.
Sometimes, I mix in Pronunciation between using of dessert & desert.
I'm being afraid to say: -What kind of deserts do yo like to eat?
It might put a Question Mark on another face
Also,between snack & snake.
I find myself want to say: which snake would you like to eat?
Last edited by Authentic Bird; 06-06-2011 at 04:38 PM..
Originally Posted by theatergypsy I was taught that if you can complete the sentence, i.e. "he is taller than I (am tall)" it's correct. No one would say, "he is taller than me (am tall)".
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drover
When using "me" as an object in the second example, there is no sentence to "complete" -- it's already complete with no implied completion needed. Both "than I" and "than me" are acceptable depending on whether you regard "than" as a conjunction or a preposition.
Theatergypsy is correct. (Otherwise, my 7th grade English teacher would be rolling over in her grave, Drover.) Pronouns | Grammar Rules (see rule #5)
Sometimes, I mix in Pronunciation between using of dessert & desert.
I'm being afraid to say: -What kind of deserts do yo like to eat?
It might put a Question Mark on another face
Also,between snack & snake.
I find myself want to say: which snake would you like to eat?
A novelist, actually, but might close Mightyqueen!
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