One more question, please. I know it is commonly accepted to say, for example:
He is taller than her.
But isn't that grammatically incorrect?
Should it not be:
He is taller than she (is)
Thank you!
Yes, indeed! He is taller than she (is).
Sra
Thank you so much!
Great question! The sentence "He is taller than her" is a commonly used construction that is considered grammatically acceptable in everyday speech. However, if we're strictly considering formal or grammatically precise language, it can be argued that "He is taller than she (is)" is more grammatically correct.
The reason for this is that "than" is a conjunction and functions as a comparative subordinating conjunction. In this construction, "than" is used to compare two things or people. When using the pronoun "she" or "he" after "than," the pronoun should be in the subjective (nominative) case, which means using "she" instead of "her."
However, in everyday language, it has become commonplace to use the objective case pronoun "her" instead of the subjective case pronoun "she" in these comparisons. This usage is so pervasive that it has become widely accepted even though it deviates from strict grammatical rules.
So, if you want to follow formal grammar rules, saying "He is taller than she (is)" is technically more accurate. But in informal or everyday speech, using "He is taller than her" is commonly accepted and will likely be more widely understood.