Pronouns After 'Than' and 'As'

Pronouns Following "than" or "as"

• Pronouns following "than" or "as" are crucial for accurate comparisons. Choosing the correct pronoun depends on the preceding noun or pronoun and the sentence structure.

• The pronoun must agree with the antecedent in number and person.

• Pronouns following "than" often directly follow "than" and act as objects in the comparison. This means they complete the comparison of an action, quality, or condition already present.

Examples of "than"

• John is taller than he (incorrect)
• John is taller than him (correct) - "him" is the object
• She is more talented than I am (correct) emphasizing She.
• She is more talented than me (correct) less emphasis on She.

Examples of "as"

• He is just as knowledgeable as she is (correct) - emphasizing He
• He is just as knowledgeable as her (correct) - less emphasis on He
• The team performed poorly, as we did (correct) - "we" is the subject pronoun.
• The team performed poorly, as us (incorrect) -"us" is an object pronoun.

Key Differences between "than" and "as"

• "Than" indicates comparison of qualities, actions, or conditions. The pronoun often acts as the object of the comparison.
• "As" signifies similarity or equivalence; the pronoun functions as subject or object depending on the context of the sentence.

Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

• Using the nominative case pronoun when the objective case is required after "than" or "as" is a frequent error. Understanding the subject/object functions helps avoid this mistake.
• Ensuring the pronoun agrees in number and person with its antecedent is crucial for grammatical accuracy.

Practice and Applications

• Practice forming comparisons with "than" and "as" using both singular and plural pronouns. This will build familiarity with correct usage.
• Apply these rules in your writing to construct grammatically correct and logical sentences.