This one is easy, I promise!

A common error in both spoken and written English is mixing up when to say “I” and when to say “me” when referring to yourself and another subject.

Before we get into the details of “I” vs “me,” let’s start with the most important concept: the order of the subjects.

Simple Rule: ALWAYS them and then me, NEVER me and then them. (Always.)

In other words, always say “Tom and I” or “Tom and me,” never “me and Tom.” Think of it as common courtesy to state the other person before yourself.

Now on to the meat and potatoes. When is it Tom and I and when is it Tom and me anyway?

Why do you say “I” in the first sentence but “me” in the second?

TIP: Take yourself out of the sentence and see how it sounds.

Would you say, “I am going to the store” or “Me am going to the store?” Put Carrie back in the sentence and you have “Carrie and I are going to the store.”

Would you say, “Would you like to go to the store with me” or “would you like to go to the store with I?” Again, put Carrie back in the sentence and you have “Would you like to go to the store with Carrie and me?”

The complicated answer refers to whether the pronoun (I or me) is doing the action or receiving the action. “I am going” vs. “come with me.”

Luckily, with the trick above, you don’t need to remember things like the relationship between the pronoun and the verb in a given sentence.

People who cannot distinguish between good and bad language, or who regard the distinction as unimportant, are unlikely to think carefully about anything else.   ~B. R. Myers

If you need another set of eyes to ensure that your usage is correct, contact Unscripted today.