3

P1: What is the Earth's highest mountain in the world?

P2: Everest?

P1: You are true! It's Mount Everest.

VS

P1: What is the Earth's highest mountain in the world?

P2: Everest?

P1: You are right! It's Mount Everest.

Are both versions acceptable or not? Is one of these preferred? If yes, why?

Improve this question
4
  • 1
    The Earth's Xest ... in the world is redundant, since the Earth and the world are the same thing; either the Earth's Xest or the Xest in the world suffices.
    – StoneyB on hiatus
    Dec 19, 2013 at 0:59
  • @StoneyB One Martian said to another, "You are the tallest native Martian I know, but what is the Earth's tallest Martian in the world?"
    – Jay
    Dec 19, 2013 at 18:17
  • @Jay But in that case you are speaking of two worlds, and the is no longer appropriate.
    – StoneyB on hiatus
    Dec 19, 2013 at 18:20
  • @StoneyB Well of course I was being whimsical. In the context above "Earth" and "world" refer to the same place and are indeed redundant. But to pretend it's a serious discussion: The word "the" doesn't imply that this is the only one in existence. Consider: One American said to another, "There are many tall people here from other nations, but who is the tallest Briton presently in the country?" "The country" would be understood to mean "America", and it is perfectly normal to use "the" in such a context. PS The sentence in my previous post was written hastily and is not entirely clear.
    – Jay
    Dec 20, 2013 at 14:39

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
9

"You are right" is correct.

In context, you are not trying to say that the PERSON is true, but that what he SAID is true. You could say, "That statement is true" or "What you said is true", etc. But not "You are true."

There is a slightly archaic expression "you are true" meaning "you are living up to your commitment". This is most commonly used in reference to marriage vows. Like, "Oh darling, if you marry me, I will always be true to you" meaning "I will never have an affair with someone else". It is also used for other commitments, like "The senator rejected the bribe and remained true to his oath of office", or in general "He stayed true to his promise."

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    Yes - but equally, "You are correct" is right too.
    – FumbleFingers
    Jul 17, 2013 at 16:09
  • @FumbleFingers Yes, you're good there!
    – Jay
    Jul 17, 2013 at 19:25

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .