Than I vs. Than Me

Subject or object (passer or receiver)

Are you comparing yourself to the subject or to the object?

than I

If comparing to the doer, then the correct choice is “than I.”

If you could logically put a preposition after “than,” use “me.”

than me

If comparing to the receiver of the action, then choose “than me.”

If a verb reasonably follows the pronoun after “than,” use “I.”

The difference is important, as which one used can change the meaning of the sentence.

Examples:

• (“me”) My brother writes more letters to my mother than (to) me.
  • “mother” = object, comparing to the object = “than to me”
  • “mother” = object, receives more letters
  • “me” = object
• (“I”) My brother writes more letters to my mother than I (write).
  • “brother” = subject, comparing to the subject = “than I [write]”
  • ” brother” = subject, writes more letters
  • “I” = subject of “write”
• (“me”) Does that mean he sees her less than me?
  • “her” = object, comparing to the object = “than me”
  • “mother” has fewer visits from him; “me” = object, the one who is seen)
• (“I”) Does that mean he sees her less than I (see her)?
  • “he” = subject, comparing to the subject = “than I [do]”
  • “brother” sees her less than I see her
• (“me”) Maybe it’s because she sees him less than me.
  • “him” = object, comparing to the object = “than me”
  • “mother” doesn’t see “brother” as often as she sees me
  • IF “less than I” = she sees him less than I see him.

Credits: Photo by Keith Johnston, Photo by Chris Moore on Unsplash