Job Discussion Forums

hesterprynne · Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 386

"She is bigger than me" or "She is bigger than I am" ?
Why?

KL · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 3:31 pm Post subject:

Both are acceptable.
In the ex. "She is bigger than I am" than is a subordinating conjunction.
In the ex. "She is bigger than me" than is a preposition.
The nominative pronoun is needed in the first example as the subject of the clause.
The objective case of the pronoun is needed in the second example because the pronoun is the object of the prepostion than. Very Happy

hesterprynne · Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 386

Thanks!

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

I am bigger than she.

I am bigger than her.

I am bigger than she is.

randyj · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:45 am Post subject:

I know this usage of than as a preposition is common in speech, but someone who writes a sentence like "I am bigger than her" in formal writing should be prepared to defend himself/herself.