Is the title of "I am Legend" correct English?

[Patrick]

My friends and I have been arguing about this for a while. Since none of us are English grammar experts maybe someone could enlighten us. Thanks!

[slash112]

Never watched the film, so I don't know if this is true. Maybe "Legend" is referring to a name, or something.

[Adam]

LOL - this reminds me of "to boldly go where no man has gone before" Which should technically be "to go boldly..." Anyway, I think Slash is right in that Legend is reference to him naming himself, hence the use of a capital, which would make this correct. If he was saying he was a legend then it would be different, I am a legend or legendary.

[Armistice]

Adam. I think it's ok due to the adverb. It's just adding "flavor" to the verb, so I think it's ok whether it's NAV or NVA As for the OP, I've always wondered that as well, but I think it could be the context that it's a name? However the title of anything is always capitalized (except for words like "and, if, or, of, the" and the like unless at the beginning. I believe "it" would be capitalized regardless for some reason), so it could actually be "I am ledgend" in which it's prob wrong, but I think it could be a name maybe Might be something to ask the title maker, lol

[grasshoppa]

An english fallacy this is not.

[spockman]

LOL - this reminds me of "to boldly go where no man has gone before" Which should technically be "to go boldly..." Anyway, I think Slash is right in that Legend is reference to him naming himself, hence the use of a capital, which would make this correct. If he was saying he was a legend then it would be different, I am a legend or legendary. In the book, him saying 'I am legend' was because he realized that the vampires would tell stories of him for all time- he was their Dracula. He was legendary. It was not capatilized in the book when Neville said 'I am Legend.' It was only capatilized since it is part of a title.

[Marvo]

My friends and I have been arguing about this for a while. Since none of us are English grammar experts maybe someone could enlighten us. Thanks! I believe the correct term would be Legendary. Legend is not an adjective as far as I know. Then again, "I am human" works and human is not an adjective either, I think. An english dictionary would probably help out a lot here e: just realized that Smith also played the main character in "I, Robot". I guess it's a trend of his to play in movies with grammatically incorrect names.

[Specialis Sapientia]

The title is "I Am Legend", and since it's a title it's perfectly normal. I am sure you have seen the same all over.

[Specialis Sapientia]

LOL - this reminds me of "to boldly go where no man has gone before" Which should technically be "to go boldly..." Well, that is up to debate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_infinitive

[Supernova]

depends if you use legend as a noun or an adjective. Used in the way adjectives typically are it would be legendary. @Marvo: that's because the adjective form of human is, human.

[panta-rei]

It's correct.

[Oneironaut Zero]

It's correct. He was considering himself as legend (conceptual), incarnate. And so is "I, Robot" - which may not be a complete sentence, but it is used correctly.

[Patrick]

Yeah, the consensus seems to be that it's fine, but my girlfriend is still convinced it's incorrect and there needs to be an 'a'. Oh well

[panta-rei]

Tell her to go make you a sandwich.

[Adam]

In the book, him saying 'I am legend' was because he realized that the vampires would tell stories of him for all time- he was their Dracula. He was legendary. It was not capatilized in the book when Neville said 'I am Legend.' It was only capatilized since it is part of a title. The surely it's I am Legendary? Tell her to go make you a sandwich. this.

[ShoNuff]

If "Legend" is someones name and Legend is saying who he is.. Then yes. If its not his name a then it should be "I am a Legend".

[Oneironaut Zero]

Anyone ever heard the expression "I am Woman. Hear me roar?" It's the same thing. They are claiming to be the physical embodiment of that concept. They are invoking the word as their title. It's correct.

[Adam]

Anyone ever heard the expression "I am Woman. Hear me roar?" It's the same thing. They are claiming to be the physical embodiment of that concept. They are invoking the word as their title. It's correct. This usage of "legend" is an older form that today would be replaced by "legendary" or "of legend," but is a correct usage.