The pronouns I and me are often misplaced in our writing and speech. We sometimes write “me” when “I” is the grammatically correct option. “I” is a subject pronoun, while “me” is an object pronoun. They replace the same noun but serve two different purposes.
This article teaches you when to use each pronoun, so, you’ll never make the mistake of using “me” instead of “I” or vice versa.
When to Use I
“I” is a subject pronoun because it identifies the person that the predicate (which states something about the subject) is referring to. Therefore, you should only use I when you are the subject of the sentence.
Example: I hired him.
Example: Kimberly and I went to the game.
In the first example, I (the subject of the sentence) performed the task of hiring someone (him), who is the object of the sentence because the hiring was done to him. In the second example, Kimberly and I (the subjects) are the persons that the predicate (went to the game) is stating something about.
When to Use Me
“Me” is an object pronoun because it identifies the object of a verb or a preposition. A preposition is a word used to create a relationship between a noun (or a pronoun) and another word. When you are the object in the sentence, then you use the pronoun, me.
Example: He hired me.
Example: She gives a recap of the game to Kimberly and me.
In the first example, I become the object and assume the appropriate pronoun of me because the verb (which is hired) has now been done to me. In the second example, Kimberly and I are now the objects of the sentence, as the recap is being given to us.
How Other Pronouns Help You to Use I and Me
Several other pronouns have both a subject and object form, these include we—us, she—her, he—him, they—them, and who—whom. Knowing these other pronouns and their different forms can provide significant clarity when deciding whether to use I or me. For instance, in the “we—us” combination the “we” is equivalent to “I” and the “us” is equivalent to “me” in plural situations.
Example: We went to the game.
Equivalent to: Kimberly and I went to the game.
Example: She gives a recap of the game to us.
Equivalent to: She gives a recap of the game to Kimberly and me.
Using Prepositions As Me or I Indicators
Prepositions are words that precede a noun. These include words and phrases such as between, below, like, to, “as well as,” “because of,” and “on behalf of.” You should always use the object form of a pronoun that follows a preposition.
Examples
Incorrect: These types of things only happen to people like you and I.
Equivalent to: These types of things only happen to people like we.
Correct: These types of things only happen to people like you and me.
Equivalent to: These types of things only happen to people like us.
Avoid Mixing Pronouns
Another rule to observe when deciding whether to use I or me is to ensure that you do not mix the subject pronouns with the object pronouns.
Example
Incorrect: Him and I sell the same merchandise.
Correct: He and I sell the same merchandise.
Incorrect: They punished she and me.
Correct: They punished her and me.
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