I've never heard anybody say, "I am smarter than he." however, somebody told me that this in grammatically incorrect. Can somebody explain why the first phrase is not right?
2006-11-11 02:27:50 · 11 answers · asked by johnny d 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
I am smarter than him.
2006-11-11 02:32:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The english language sometimes drops a word at the end of a sentence because it is understood that it is needed to make a sentence complete. (This is fairly common when the last word shown is a pronoun, he, she, it) In this case, the word "is" should be at the end of the sentence. The statement would then read "I am smarter than him is or I am smarter than he is. Which one sounds right. To be grammatically correct, the answer is he is because it sounds better.
2006-11-11 02:43:47 · answer #2 · answered by bettyswestbrook 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
'I am smarter than he' is correct. You are both the subject in this sentence because you are being compared. When you speak of subjects, you say I, he, she. The same would be the rule for 'she is smarter than I."
Next time you ask if he or him is right, think about if you can put is or am at the end. For intance, i could say "I am smarter than he IS." or "She is smarter than I AM" That's how I always remembered it.
2006-11-11 02:37:34 · answer #3 · answered by Ha Ha! 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am smarter than he is the correct choice. Just add "is" to the sentence and it will become clear which is grammatically correct. You wouldn't say "I am smarter than HIM (is)."
2006-11-11 14:09:31 · answer #4 · answered by rhymer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There may have been a be verb at the end of these archaic statements, but there is none any longer. So in modern use the objective use of the pronouns- him, her, me, etc. is correct. 'He (is),' 'I (am)' is no longer understood. In the same sense, allowing prepositions at the end of sentences is now considered standard English.
2015-07-19 05:54:34 · answer #5 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am smarter than he (is).
The verb 'to be' (which is 'am' in the above sentence) takes the same case after it as before it (subjective case).
2006-11-11 21:27:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
him. Technically both are correct, but I personally think "him" sounds less retarded.
"He" implies an invisible "is" at the end, with "he" in the objective case. If you use "him," you're treating "than" as a preposition. However, like I said, both are correct in current usage; and as for the person who gave me the thumbs down for this, trust me, I am smarter than him/her.
2006-11-11 02:34:52 · answer #7 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
'He' normally starts a sentence as he is the subject and is also dramatic. I cannot end one.
Him is the person you are talking about so you can put him at the end but not the front. You can with he.
You can only use he in a poem with the sentence carrying on the other line.
2006-11-11 02:36:31 · answer #8 · answered by Becky!! 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Correct answer is....
I am smarter than he is.
I am ~ he is.
2006-11-11 02:56:55 · answer #9 · answered by preity 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2nd phrase is correct .
2006-11-11 03:15:24 · answer #10 · answered by nixon sohtra 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋