“As … as I” vs. “as … as me”

“Than I” vs. “than me”

“As well as I” vs. “as well as me”

 

Which one is correct? The argument is whether they are used as conjunctions or prepositions.

 

In formalEnglish, we consider these words conjunctions. Therefore if you are comparing subjects, the pronoun after these words should take the subjective case. If you are comparing direct or indirect objects, the pronouns should be objective.

 

For example:

 

He is as tall as I am. (He, I => subject)

= He is as tall as I

 

He is taller than I am.

= He is taller than I.

 

He is tall as well as I am.

= He is tall as well as I.

 

I have never seen someone more charming than him. (someone, him => objective)

 

** For me, I would use the formal English usage.

 

In informal English, “than”, “as… as”, “as well as” are considered prepositions.

He is as tall as me.

He is taller than me.

He is tall as well as me.

 

 

The problem with considering “than” and “as … as” prepositions is that it creates confusion. It would be unclear which of the two meanings was intended. Treating them as conjunctions helps to avoid ambiguity.


For example:

He hates John more than me.

It can mean:

(1)    He hates John more than I hate John. (= The degree that he hates John is higher than the degree that I hate John)

or

(2)  He hates John more than he hates me. (=The degree that he hates John is higher than the degree that he hates me.)

 

To reduce confusion, you would want to say “He hates John more than I do” if you meant to say that he hates John more than I hate John.

 

Another example:

He has more lovers than me.

It can mean:

(1)    He has more lovers than I have. (= The numbera of his lovers is higher that the number of my lovers.)

or

(2)  He has more lovers than just me. (= He has other lovers. I am not his only lover.)

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