You are correct: it should be "as I" in this case. You see and hear incorrect instances of "as me" so frequently only because English speakers have a lot of bad habits.
Ask yourself, would you say, "she is as fast as I am," or would you say "she is as fast as me am"?
AnonymousAsk yourself, would you say, "she is as fast as I am," or would you say "she is as fast as me am"?
I believe that the response above is incorrect. My opinion is:
A rule in English is that a preposition always takes an object. The word "as" is a preposition and must take an "object". The word "me" is an object. The word "I" is not an object. Hence, the correct way to say it is "She is as fast as me."
Substituting the two words "I am" for the word "me" is also correct because it is a propositional phrase. Therefore, "She is as fast as I am" is also correct. What is incorrect is to drop off the "am" and say "she is as fast as I" which is clearly wrong because it is no longer a prepositional phrase, that is to say having both a subject "I" and a verb "am". If you drop off the "am" it goes from being a prepositional phrase to the rule that a preposition must take an object "me".
Summary:
She is as fast as me. CORRECT She is as fast as I am. CORRECT She is as fast as I. WRONG
"As" is an adverb not a preposition. Your analysis is flawed.
Try this: And I, and me
A rule in English is that a preposition always takes an object. The word "as" is a preposition and must take an "object". The word "me" is an object. The word "I" is not an object. Hence, the correct way to say it is "She is as fast as me."
Substituting the two words "I am" for the word "me" is also correct because it is a propositional phrase. Therefore, "She is as fast as I am" is also correct. What is incorrect is to drop off the "am" and say "she is as fast as I" which is clearly wrong because it is no longer a prepositional phrase, that is to say having both a subject "I" and a verb "am". If you drop off the "am" it goes from being a prepositional phrase to the rule that a preposition must take an object "me".
Summary:
She is as fast as me. CORRECT
She is as fast as I am. CORRECT
She is as fast as I. WRONG
Adverb:Used in comparisons to refer to the extent or degree of something: "hailstones as big as tennis balls".
throws up
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/as