Ask the Editor
When should I use "me" and when should I use "I"?
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Learners Everywhere
Answer
Sometimes it can be tricky to determine if you should be using "me" or "I" in a sentence. Use the pronoun "I" when the person speaking is doing the action, either alone or with someone else. Use the pronoun "me" when the person speaking is receiving the action of the verb in some way, either directly or indirectly. It can be difficult to know which one to use when a sentence has a compound subject or object, especially since many people use "me" in subject position and "I" in object position in speech—and this is OK to do.
The following sentences show when you should use the subject pronoun "I". In each sentence, "I" is the subject of the verb.
- I gave Cece a ride to work today.
- My friend and I went to the party.
- Before we left, Sarah and I said goodbye to the host.
The following sentences show when you should use the object pronoun "me". In each sentence, "me" is the object of the verb.
- Julie accidentally hit me with her bag as she walked by.
- Henry told Tran and me to wait for him.
- He was bullying me and my friend.
The following sentences show more cases when you should use the object pronoun "me". In each sentence, "me" is the object of a preposition.
- Kevin smiled at me.
- Cheryl and her kids gave the card to me in person.
- The bird flew over Ben and me before landing in the tree.
- The new student decided to sit with me and Kim at lunch.
It is very common for native speakers to use "me" in subject position and "I" in object position. This is fine in casual speech but should be avoided in formal writing. The following examples are some ways people might use "me" and "I" in speech.
- Me and Anne went to the corner store for drinks.
- The teacher gave the books to Jenn and I to hand out to everyone else.
- Me and my mom are going to see that new movie tonight.
- The president of the college called Robert and I to thank us.
I hope this helps. For more posts about words and usage, like us onFacebook and follow us onTwitter!
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