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Vols Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Pronoun usage

I am having trouble understanding why you don't use the object form of the pronoun in the example.

Kathy is more nervous than her/she. My text says to use "she". Is it because it follows after "than". Thanks.
  

Top answer

The book is wrong, usually we would use "her". I think that people sometimes use "she" in a misguided attempt at speaking formal English though.

— Woodcutter

  • The book is wrong, usually we would use "her".
  • I think that people sometimes use "she" in a misguided attempt at speaking formal English though.
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4 Answers
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The book is wrong, usually we would use "her". I think that people sometimes use "she" in a misguided attempt at speaking formal English though.
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The underlying structure is as follows. Note that, 'is nervous' has been omitted by the speaker/writer, which makes 'she' the subject, and the reason your text says to use 'she'. Your book is not "wrong"; but, when the verb and its object are omitted, speakers tend to use the object form 'her'.
Kathy is more nervous than she (is nervous).
Kathy is more nervous than her.
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Another common version is e.g.

'Thierry's better at football than David is.'
'Thierry's better at football than I am.'
'I'm better at football than she is.'

This is often used for emphasis: 'I'm better at football than she is!'.

MrP
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Actually, the book is right. If the sentence were completed, it would be "Kathy is more nervous than she is nervous."

It's a specific meaning. For instance:

I like you better than her = I like you better than I like her

BUT

I like you better than she = I like you better than she likes you
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