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Which is the correct usage to end the following sentence?

[person] is not as [adjective] as you and I [am/are].

I'd also like to see some good fill-in-the-blanks.

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3 Answers

up vote 9 down vote accepted

Personally, being a fan of brevity, I'd go with door number three: neither.

Eeyore isn't as fun as you and I.

In a pinch though, you'd certainly need the plural verb:

Winnie the Pooh isn't as tall as you and I are.
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Shouldn't that be "Eeyore isn't as fun as (you and) me"? – Paul Oct 10 '11 at 9:23
@Fraser Orr: As per this long discussion here(english.stackexchange.com/questions/1047/…), it certainly should be "Eeyore isn't as fun as (you and) me?" instead of 'I'. Your comments please. – Daredev Sep 26 '12 at 9:40
up vote 4 down vote

The "and" makes "you" and "I" a group of two people, so the plural has to be used.

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up vote 2 down vote

Are, but we are would be much more likely.

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"Joe isn't as awesome as we are" is more ambiguous and sounds less natural than "Joe isn't as awesome as you and I are" – zzzzBov Oct 4 '11 at 20:30
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Hey, Barrie. I've been reading your answers around this site since you joined us. I've also read the info you've got in the "about me" section. I'm glad you're a part of this community and I like everything you have to say, but your last answers I've read were too short and simple, although correct. Please, don't let it become a habit. I wouldn't like to see such an amazing person like you start posting such simple answers, especially with all the knowledge you've got! – Richard Rodriguez Oct 4 '11 at 20:32
Specifying "you and I" would be good if "we" implies more people than "you and I" does. – FrustratedWithFormsDesigner Oct 4 '11 at 20:45
IMHO this is a situation where the brevity is appropriate. I do agree that some of readers of this question could do with a bit more of a "why" though. – T.E.D. Oct 4 '11 at 23:00
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Thank you, Rimmer, kind of you to say so. As with speeches and skirts, so with posts: there’s a fine line between what is long enough to cover the subject, and what is short enough to be interesting. – Barrie England Oct 5 '11 at 8:17

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