What's the correct way to say this???? plz help!?

Question

I only hope to be half as good a person as they are or half as good a person as them?

Or perhaps I can only hope to turn out to be half as good as them or if all of these are wrong can someone give me a correct way of saying this?? Thanks

Answer 1

In both cases, it's "they".  You got it on your first try.  If you can say "as they are", then "they" is correct.  You certainly wouldn't say "as them are".