In conversational English, most native speakers will say things like "taller than him" instead of "taller than he". Still, it's important to know the formal way to use pronouns with elliptical clauses.
Choose the correct pronoun to complete each of the following sentences.
1. I see all those people laughing, and I wonder if I'll ever be as happy as _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
2. He talks to me a lot, but he talks to you more than _____________ .
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
3. They obviously wanted this victory more than ______________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
4. My sister is as tall as _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
5. I like pie more than my sister does. = I like pie more than _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
6. I like pie more than I like my sister. = I like pie more than _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
7. I'm taking fewer classes than _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
8. You're not distributing the candy evenly. You gave them more candy than _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
9. No one dances better than _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
10. The news pleased her as much as _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
—
DID YOU KNOW?
Elliptical clauses are a hallmark of sophisticated English — but only when the pronoun case is right.
An elliptical clause omits words that are implied by context: She runs faster than he [runs]. The case of the pronoun in the elliptical part depends on the omitted verb — which is why She runs faster than him means something slightly different (him runs? no). Cambridge C1/C2 writing and Use of English both test this distinction, and TOEFL sentence correction includes elliptical clause questions at the higher score ranges.
Mastering elliptical clauses signals to an examiner that you control English at a structural level, not just a surface level. This exercise is specifically designed for writers aiming at C2 or TOEFL 28+.