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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 8
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 8 |
Hi All,
As said earlier you will have a tough time with me, solving my silly doubts.
I know the below two sentences have different meanings but couldn't sort it out. So when in doubt, go for AWAD talk hahaha.
1. He loves you more than I.
2. He loves you more than me.
How should the above sentences be interpreted?
Thanks in Advance,
Kiran
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156 |
Both sentences have bits left out.
Read #1 as "He loves you more than I (do)." That is, he loves you more than I love you.
Read #2 as "He loves you more than (he loves) me."
I guess when you use the subject form of the first person singular pronoun (I), you are comparing that subject (I) with the only other subject pronoun in the sentence (he). When you use the object version of the first person singular pronoun (me) you are comparing it with the only other object in the sentence (you). Does that help?
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Yeah. Wot she said.
- Pfranz
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
What Bean says is exactly what you would do if you were to follow the proper rules of English, and is what you should do in class or if you are writing formally.
In real life, however, you will rarely here 1 all by itself. When you do hear 1 it will often be something like He loves you more than I ever could. The use of case markers in English is a dying art and you will often hear 2 used to mean 1. It is probably best to clear up the ambiguity by supplying the missing portions as supplied by Bean.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Sinc this is a word site, the word for "leaving bits out"
is ellipsis. It has to be used sparingly, though, sinde it
may lead to ambiguity, or to misunderstanding.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Bill, my boy, some people can be confusing no matter how much they put in. I speak from experience ...
- Pfranz
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
Pfranz, ya beat me to it!
It has to be used sparingly, though, since it may lead to ambiguity, or to misunderstanding.
Is there something that I could use that would insure ambiguity but guard against misunderstanding? [can o'worms e]
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
insure ambiguity but guard against misunderstanding?
Maybe yes, maybe no. If you choose your target carefully you might be able to ensure misunderstanding and guard against ambiguity but.
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Joined: Jun 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
Is there something that I could use that would insure ambiguity but guard against misunderstanding? [can o'worms e]ROTFLMFAO  Just like a guy to want his wormcake and eat it tooMoose, all ya have to do is open yer mouth and yer halfway there! 
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
In reply to:
Is there something that I could use that would insure ambiguity but guard against misunderstanding?
How much do you want to insure the ambiguity for, and at what level of misunderstanding would the insurance company have to pay out?
Bingley
Bingley
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