A question about grammar Hi! I've had this question for some time and today, after finding the same mistake (or what I think is a mistake) in a book for the umpteenth time, I decided to ask for your help. I'm not a native speaker. I learnt English at school and all of my teachers (and all of my grammar books) taught me that, when using a comparative adjective, after "than" goes an objective pronoun, not a subjective one. E.g. He's taller than her = right E.g. He's taller than she = wrong But it's correct to say: He's taller than she is. That's the rule as I know it. However, in each and every book I've read so far, I found something like: "He had more to prove than they." I should probably point out that these books are mosty written by American authors, and have all been published in the last fifteen to twenty years. I don't remember ever finding this "mistake" in Austen or Dickens. I'd really like to know if this is a new rule or if it's still correct to use comparatives the way I learnt. Links to articles about grammar would be welcome, if you know any. Thank you!https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126070#msg-126070Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:57:20 +0100 Phorum 5.2.22 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126350#msg-126350 Re: A question about grammarhttps://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126350#msg-126350
That disagreement is well above us mortals. Suffice it to say, both sides claim they are right, and the others are wrong.

One thing is definitely "wrong": He is taller than he. It's always he is taller than him.

Expressions of the form: he is taller than she/her generally are acceptable whichever is used, but the use of the nominative sounds a little more pretentious/formal.

Bottom line: No matter what you use, someone will think you wrong, except for the he/he, she/she, they/they example above.]]> marks Tea RoomMon, 11 Sep 2017 12:18:33 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126198#msg-126198 Re: A question about grammarhttps://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126198#msg-126198> Perhaps one should listen to the Queen and follow the
> grammar she uses. LOL

But then we would all have to refer to ourselves in the plural! ("We are not amused")

:D

- Alan -]]> Alan Tea RoomSun, 06 Aug 2017 07:47:38 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126111#msg-126111 Re: A question about grammarhttps://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126111#msg-126111 cpauline Tea RoomFri, 21 Jul 2017 15:40:32 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126106#msg-126106 Re: A question about grammarhttps://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126106#msg-126106Mary is taller than him at school. Also: She is friendlier than me but She is friendlier than I am. However, that was about 55 years ago and languages changes .... I agree with Lily´s wish for a higher authority to set the rules like we have the DUDEN. Perhaps one should listen to the Queen and follow the grammar she uses. LOL]]> Dorothee Tea RoomWed, 19 Jul 2017 18:04:10 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126098#msg-126098 Re: A question about grammarhttps://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126098#msg-126098 Harvey S. Tea RoomTue, 18 Jul 2017 16:51:21 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126095#msg-126095 Re: A question about grammarhttps://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126095#msg-126095
I found the article very enlightening. According to its author, I apparently have the rule backward - surprising as it may seem.

Quote

“The writer who risks a sentence like Mary is taller than him in formal writing must be prepared to defend the usage against objections of critics.”

This means that, in formal contexts, one should always say than he, than + subjective pronoun, if only to avoid criticism.

The whole debate between the "than me - team" and the "than I - team" is fascinating, but I admit I am disappointed there is no higher authority that definitely sets the rules. In my country there's an important society of scholars (linguists and philologists) that studies our language and its changes, and regularly publishes articles on grammar matters (among other things). I always rely on those when I'm uncertain about the correct rules. Isn't there something similar in the UK or the USA?

I should also find some British sources on this topic. Dorothee might be right in saying that US English is often more flexible in its grammar matters.]]> Lily - not logged in Tea RoomTue, 18 Jul 2017 14:28:44 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126078#msg-126078 Re: A question about grammarhttps://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126078#msg-126078Dorothee]]> Dorothee Tea RoomMon, 17 Jul 2017 10:21:07 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126071#msg-126071 Re: A question about grammarhttps://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126071#msg-126071this link that investigates the arguments on each side. (There are two pages, so don't miss the second)]]> JanetR Tea RoomSun, 16 Jul 2017 15:08:18 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126070#msg-126070 A question about grammarhttps://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,126070,126070#msg-126070
I've had this question for some time and today, after finding the same mistake (or what I think is a mistake) in a book for the umpteenth time, I decided to ask for your help.

I'm not a native speaker. I learnt English at school and all of my teachers (and all of my grammar books) taught me that, when using a comparative adjective, after "than" goes an objective pronoun, not a subjective one.

E.g. He's taller than her = right

E.g. He's taller than she = wrong

But it's correct to say:

He's taller than she is.

That's the rule as I know it. However, in each and every book I've read so far, I found something like:

"He had more to prove than they."

I should probably point out that these books are mosty written by American authors, and have all been published in the last fifteen to twenty years. I don't remember ever finding this "mistake" in Austen or Dickens.

I'd really like to know if this is a new rule or if it's still correct to use comparatives the way I learnt. Links to articles about grammar would be welcome, if you know any.

Thank you!]]> Lily Tea RoomSun, 16 Jul 2017 09:02:07 +0100