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Usenet Posted 17 years ago
Usage
Wicked grammar
While listening to the soundtrack to the musical "Wicked" I came across two lines that made me question the grammar. I realize that lyricists sometimes tinker with grammar to make the meter and rhyme work, but it's not clear whether these are correct or not.
1. "It seems so unfair we should go on a spree and not she." ("Dancingthrough life") Is "she" correct, or should it be "her"?
2. "Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I my tender heart tends to startto bleed". ("Popular") Is "I" correct, or should it be "me"? I guess if there is an implied "am" after I, then I would be correct. "...less fortunate than I am...".
1. "It seems so unfair we should go on a spree and not she." ("Dancingthrough life") Is "she" correct, or should it be "her"?
2. "Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I my tender heart tends to startto bleed". ("Popular") Is "I" correct, or should it be "me"? I guess if there is an implied "am" after I, then I would be correct. "...less fortunate than I am...".
Top answer
[nq:1]While listening to the soundtrack to the musical "Wicked" I came across two lines that made me question the grammar. [/nq] If the contrast is between "we should go on a spree" and "she should go on a spree" then "she" is clearly correct. If the contrast is between "we should go on a spree" and "we should go on her" then "her" is clearly correct.
- [nq:1]While listening to the soundtrack to the musical "Wicked" I came across two lines that made me question the grammar.
- [/nq] If the contrast is between "we should go on a spree" and "she should go on a spree" then "she" is clearly correct.
- If the contrast is between "we should go on a spree" and "we should go on her" then "her" is clearly correct.
- Which do you think more likely?
- [nq:1]2.
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21 Answers
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[nq:1]While listening to the soundtrack to the musical "Wicked" I came across two lines that made me question the grammar. ... we should go on a spree and not she." ("Dancing through life") Is "she" correct, or should it be "her"?[/nq]
If the contrast is between "we should go on a spree" and "she should go on a spree" then "she" is clearly correct.
If the contrast is between "we should go
If the contrast is between "we should go on a spree" and "she should go on a spree" then "she" is clearly correct.
If the contrast is between "we should go
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[nq:2]While listening to the soundtrack to the musical "Wicked" I ... through life") Is "she" correct, or should it be "her"?[/nq]
[nq:1]If the contrast is between "we should go on a spree" and "she should go on a spree" then "she" is clearly correct.[/nq]
Well yes, and that's what I'd write, but I'd add, echoing what you say later, "her" is widely accepted.
[nq:1]If the contrast is be
[nq:1]If the contrast is between "we should go on a spree" and "she should go on a spree" then "she" is clearly correct.[/nq]
Well yes, and that's what I'd write, but I'd add, echoing what you say later, "her" is widely accepted.
[nq:1]If the contrast is be
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[nq:2]If the contrast is between "we should go on a spree" and "she should go on a spree" then "she" is clearly correct.[/nq]
[nq:1]Well yes, and that's what I'd write, but I'd add, echoing what you say later, "her" is widely accepted.[/nq]
Widely used, but widely accepted?
With best wishes,
Peter.
Peter Young, (BrE), Consultant Anaesthetist, 1975-2004. (US equivalent: Att
[nq:1]Well yes, and that's what I'd write, but I'd add, echoing what you say later, "her" is widely accepted.[/nq]
Widely used, but widely accepted?
With best wishes,
Peter.
Peter Young, (BrE), Consultant Anaesthetist, 1975-2004. (US equivalent: Att
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[nq:1]1. "It seems so unfair we should go on a spree and not she." ("Dancing through life") Is "she" correct, or should it be "her"?[/nq]
'She' is better - though you'd rarely hear it in normal conversation. Either is fine for the song.
[nq:1]2. "Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I, my tender heart tends to start to bleed". ("Popular") Is "I" ... I guess if there is an implied "am
'She' is better - though you'd rarely hear it in normal conversation. Either is fine for the song.
[nq:1]2. "Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I, my tender heart tends to start to bleed". ("Popular") Is "I" ... I guess if there is an implied "am
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[nq:2]Well yes, and that's what I'd write, but I'd add, echoing what you say later, "her" is widely accepted.[/nq]
[nq:1]Widely used, but widely accepted?[/nq]
Not by me, and I'm fairly wide.
Bill
Reverse parts of the user name and ISP name for my e-address
[nq:1]Widely used, but widely accepted?[/nq]
Not by me, and I'm fairly wide.
Bill
Reverse parts of the user name and ISP name for my e-address
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[nq:2]Widely used, but widely accepted?[/nq]
[nq:1]Not by me, and I'm fairly wide.[/nq]
I'm surprised. If "me" is widely accepted in the second example, then why should "her" in the first not be? Of course, "me" in this sort of context is very common, and "her" isn't, but I don't see why that should make difference.
athel
[nq:1]Not by me, and I'm fairly wide.[/nq]
I'm surprised. If "me" is widely accepted in the second example, then why should "her" in the first not be? Of course, "me" in this sort of context is very common, and "her" isn't, but I don't see why that should make difference.
athel
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[nq:2]Well yes, and that's what I'd write, but I'd add, echoing what you say later, "her" is widely accepted.[/nq]
[nq:1]Widely used, but widely accepted?[/nq]
It is presumably accepted by its users, so if it is widely used it is widely accepted.
It rather depends on what "widely" means.
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)
[nq:1]Widely used, but widely accepted?[/nq]
It is presumably accepted by its users, so if it is widely used it is widely accepted.
It rather depends on what "widely" means.
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)
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[nq:2]2. "Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I my ... then I would be correct. "...less fortunate than I am...".[/nq]
[nq:1]"I" is obviously correct; "me" is widely accepted.[/nq]
It's not obvious to me. Would you say:
"She is less fortunate than I."
"She weighs less than I."
"Bill Gates is richer than I."
"I see someone less fortunate than I."
[nq:1]As for the
[nq:1]"I" is obviously correct; "me" is widely accepted.[/nq]
It's not obvious to me. Would you say:
"She is less fortunate than I."
"She weighs less than I."
"Bill Gates is richer than I."
"I see someone less fortunate than I."
[nq:1]As for the
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[nq:2]2. "Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I, my ... then I would be correct. "...less fortunate than I am...".[/nq]
[nq:1]I've added a comma to the quote; I agree that 'am' is implied, making it correct as is.[/nq]
Would you say:
"I see someone less fortunate than I."
"I see someone who is thinner than I."
"Bill Gates is richer than I."
If you assume an implied "
[nq:1]I've added a comma to the quote; I agree that 'am' is implied, making it correct as is.[/nq]
Would you say:
"I see someone less fortunate than I."
"I see someone who is thinner than I."
"Bill Gates is richer than I."
If you assume an implied "
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[nq:2]"I" is obviously correct; "me" is widely accepted.[/nq]
[nq:1]It's not obvious to me. Would you say: "She is less fortunate than I." "She weighs less than I." "Bill Gates is richer than I." "I see someone less fortunate than I."[/nq]
Yes, obviously.
[nq:2]As for the missing "am", look up "ellipsis" in your dictionary.[/nq]
[nq:1]What is your point? I believe I correctly used
[nq:1]It's not obvious to me. Would you say: "She is less fortunate than I." "She weighs less than I." "Bill Gates is richer than I." "I see someone less fortunate than I."[/nq]
Yes, obviously.
[nq:2]As for the missing "am", look up "ellipsis" in your dictionary.[/nq]
[nq:1]What is your point? I believe I correctly used
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