Is it ok to say "The boss is me!!" (=I am the boss

cftranslate · Post by **cftranslate** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 9:04 pm

I am talking about an emphatic assertion, to make clear one's position to anyone who's contesting it.

I not interested whether it is correct but rather whether it sounds ok in English, i am not a native speaker.

Thanks

Celeste · Post by **Celeste** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 6:40 am

"The boss is me." sounds odd. I would only use "I am the boss."

Lorikeet · Post by **Lorikeet** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 2:54 pm

I can envision a situation where "The boss is me." would be used, but I think it might be a little tongue-in-cheek.

John: Hi, I'm a new worker here.
Mary: Hello I hope you like it.
John: Well, it seems okay so far. I hope the boss is nice.
Mary: Hmm, well yes.
John: So what do you think about the boss?
Mary: Heh. The boss is me!

There you have it.

However, that silly example aside, if it was a more formal occasion, the assertion would be made stronger by emphasizing the "I" in "I am the boss." and would most certainly be the one used.

cftranslate · Post by **cftranslate** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 4:44 pm

Well I was thinking in a siruation like this.

John: "You can't do that, in this place, Peter won't allow it"
Boss: Let's make this clear, the boss is me! Ok?

The level of acceptability is "only a foreigner would sai like that"

Only a foreigner would say "the boss is me" in this situation?

Thanks

dduck · Post by **dduck** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 6:09 pm

cftranslate wrote:Only a foreigner would say "the boss is me" in this situation?

Yes, Indeed.

I agree with Celeste's answer.

Iain

Adam Simpson · Post by **Adam Simpson** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 7:53 pm

This is English. If someone says it, it goes.

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 2:00 am

dduck and celeste:

"The boss is I?"
What's your suggestion?

sita · Post by **sita** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 10:34 am

I would say: "I am the boss

"

Siân/Welsh

Casiopea · Post by **Casiopea** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 10:38 am

A: Who's the boss around here?
B: Maerjickle Sjorgentoufkl is the boss.
A: The boss is who?
B: Me. The boss is me.

sita · Post by **sita** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 10:43 am

Hi!

It does not sound English to me as a native speaker.

Siân

dduck · Post by **dduck** » Sun Sep 14, 2003 7:36 pm

Roger wrote:dduck and celeste:

"The boss is I?"
What's your suggestion?

I can smell a trap, and refuse to play!

Iain

kimchikowboy · Post by **kimchikowboy** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 11:25 am

This comes from teaching GMAT a few years ago. This is one of the classic tricks they use in the sentence correction section. After the verb "be", you have to use the subjective form of the verb (transitive/intransitive -- I forgot which and it's late). So it would be, "The boss is I", though we would really say, "I'm the boss."

Casiopea · Post by **Casiopea** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 2:17 pm

Is there really a subjective form of a verb, and if so, wouldn't it be "me" or "I". Hehe. Just rattling bones.

Great addition

dduck · Post by **dduck** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 4:23 pm

Casiopea wrote:Is there really a subjective form of a verb, and if so, wouldn't it be "me" or "I". Hehe. Just rattling bones.

Great addition

It's a little while since I looked at this. I believe the correct terminology is:

Nominitive Case e.g. I am he.
Accusative Case e.g. I am he
Dative Case e.g. I am him
Genitive Case e.g. I am his friend

Iain

Will. · Post by **Will.** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 12:32 pm

just popping in,
take a look at the employment forum unedr the 'are you meant to be working now' thread and read the example from MELEE this is a case where the emphasis and pause could be used in general speech with "The boss.. Is me"

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Is it ok to say "The boss is me!!" (=I am the boss

Is it ok to say "The boss is me!!" (=I am the boss

The boss is who?

YES