A Straight Dope Classic from Cecil's Storehouse of Human Knowledge
Is "I am" the shortest English sentence?
May 29, 1998
Dear Cecil:
A page of fun facts making the rounds says "I am" is the shortest complete sentence in English. Can this be true?
Dear Jim:
No.
You object: "No" isn't a sentence! A sentence needs a predicate!
Oh, OK. Ready?
Go.
You object again: That's cheating! The subject is only implied! Who could possibly call that a sentence?
I.
Yeah, right, you say. And we're supposed to just take your word for it?
!
