Which sentence is correct? "My husband likes golf more than I," or "My husband likes golf more than me."

It all depends on your meaning, not to mention your marriage.

If you mean that your husband likes golf more than you like golf, say, "He likes golf more than I." (And tell him not to wear his golf shoes in the house.)

But if you mean your husband likes golf more than he likes you, say, "He likes golf more than me." (Then kick him out of the house.)

Here's the house rule: When a pronoun follows "as" or "than," use the form of the pronoun you would use if the full clause were completed.

Huh?

Here are some examples: My wife knows more about golf than I (do). I am not as skilled as she (is). The golf pro praises her more than (he praises) me. The golf pro praises her more than I (do).

And if you feel stuffy saying, "I'm a better golfer than he," or, "He's not as strong a golfer as I," just add the missing verb and you won't sound like some fancy aristocrat. No one will think it's snooty to say, "I'm a better golfer than he is," unless, of course, you're actually a worse golfer than he is.

OK. Enough practice strokes. Let's tee off. See whether you can correctly fill the holes in these sentences. (And, no, I'm not allowing you to take mulligans.)

1. George mastered golf faster than (me/I).

2. Have you played golf as long as (him/he)?

3. Lois likes to golf with George more than (me/I).

4. Golf does not interest me as much as (her/she).

5. I want to play golf with George more than (them, they).

Answers:

1. I — George mastered golf faster than I (did).

2. he — Have you played golf as long as he (has)?

3. me or I — Lois likes to golf with George more than (he does with) me, or Lois likes to golf with George more than I (do).

4. her or she — Golf does not interest me as much as (it interests) her, or Golf does not interest me as much as she (interests me).

5. them or they — I want to play golf with George more than (play golf with) them, or I want to play golf with George more than they (do).

Scorecard: 5 correct — eagle; 4 — birdie; 3 — par; 4 — bogey; 1 — take lessons from George; 0 — take lessons from Lois.

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. His book, "Mark My Words," is available for $9.99 on Amazon.com. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to [email protected] or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, California, 90254.

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