Better

I've heard it expressed that way on this site.

Debpriya Dehave a house

I think this would never be used in English, even though that is the implication.

Philip

Debpriya Dehave a house

I think this would never be used in English, even though that is the implication.

I agree, Philip. It's one of the unnaturalist things I've ever heard in my life!

Is this the short for "I have a better house than you have a house" ?

Sorry. My edit button has disappeared again!

This thread makes no sense at all.

Ah, my edit button is back!

Can anybody tell me who is teaching this thing??

I have a better house than you.

comes from

I have a house. You have a house.
My house is better than your house.

but no one says

I have a better house than you have a house.

The final noun, which is being compared, is not restated, though you may restate anything up to that point: than you or than you have

Hi, CJ.
Geez, I'm not suggesting that anyone would actually say this.

But it's common practice for "teachers" to explain certain structures by describing them as an elipsis from some structure which sounds very awkward.

The statement "I have a better house than you" is the short version of "I have a better house than you have a house." is an example of this sort of thing. I

AvangiGeez, I'm not suggesting that anyone would actually say this.

I didn't realize I had written anything that implied that you were suggesting it, did I?

AvangiI can't believe you haven't seen it.

Oh, yes. I've seen it. It's a fairly common way of presenting the topic, though I think there may be a more sophisticated way to explain it. If only I were sophisticated enough to do it!

CJ

CalifJim I didn't realize I had written anything that implied that you were suggesting it, did I?