I'm not making a political statement (and who knows how many grammatical errors might have been made in the recent DNC speeches), but the following grammar faux pas by Mitt Romney rang in my ears during the recent Republican National Convention:
But if you ask Ann and I what we'd give, to break up just one more fight between the boys...
Sorry, Mitt. That should be "Ann and me."
Iandmeare personal pronouns. We use the personal pronoun I (a subject pronoun) when referring to a subject (the doer of action); use me (an object pronoun) when referring to the object of an action. In the example from Mitt's speech, the "I" in the sentence is being asked a question; it is the object of the action.
Most speakers and writers understand the basics of personal pronouns. It'swhen we're faced with a compound subject (like Mitt's) that some of us choke and use the wrong pronoun. For example, most of us know it's correct to say"I went to the concert last night" instead of"Me went to the concert last night." And"John gave the concert tickets to me"would be an easy choice over"John gave the concert tickets to I." Still, some folks would easily (and incorrectly) say:"John gave the concert tickets to Jim and I."
An easy way to determine if you're using the correct pronoun isto break down the compound subject in a sentence and make it into two complete sentences with a single subject:
John gave the concert tickets to Jim.
John gave the concert tickets to me.
John gave the concert tickets to Jim and me.
If me is correct by itself, then it's the right choice when you're using it with with another noun.
Another common mistake is the misuse of the reflexive pronounmyself. For example:
Read the report and send your feedback to Tom and myself. (wrong)
Read the report and send your feedback to Tom and me. (correct)
As a reflexive pronoun, myself must be preceded by anoun, pronoun, adjective or adverb that it refers back to (its antecedent). In the example above, myself has no antecedent. Examples of correct usage include:
I saw myself in the mirror.
I treated myself to a cup of hot tea.
In these examples, myself refers back to its antecedent: I. Himself, herself and yourself are also reflexive pronouns. You could easily substitute he/himself or her/herself into the second sentence above. (She treated herself to a cup of hot tea.)
That's it for me, myself and I. I hope this post helped you sort out any issues you might have in using them.
Have you been tripped up by personal pronouns? Do you notice when writers and speakers misuse the pronouns cited in this post? Please share your thoughts in the Comments.
As an expert in English grammar and language usage, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a keen eye for linguistic nuances. My expertise is not only theoretical but is backed by practical experience and a deep understanding of the intricacies of language. I have extensively studied grammar rules, syntax, and usage patterns, allowing me to dissect and analyze language-related issues with precision.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article titled "Me, myself and I." The author addresses common grammatical errors related to personal pronouns and provides valuable insights into their correct usage. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts covered in the article:
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Personal Pronouns (I, me): The article emphasizes the difference between subject pronouns (I) and object pronouns (me). It clarifies that "I" should be used as a subject pronoun, referring to the doer of an action, while "me" is used as an object pronoun, referring to the object of an action.
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Compound Subjects: The author discusses the challenge of using personal pronouns correctly in compound subjects. When faced with compound subjects, such as "Ann and I," the article suggests breaking down the sentence into two complete sentences with a single subject to determine the correct pronoun usage.
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Reflexive Pronouns (myself, himself, herself, yourself): The article points out the common mistake of misusing reflexive pronouns, specifically "myself." It explains that a reflexive pronoun must be preceded by a noun, pronoun, adjective, or adverb that it refers back to, known as its antecedent. The correct usage of reflexive pronouns is demonstrated in examples like "I saw myself in the mirror" and "I treated myself to a cup of hot tea."
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Other Reflexive Pronouns: The article briefly mentions other reflexive pronouns like "himself," "herself," and "yourself," indicating that they follow similar rules of usage.
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Correcting Misuse: Throughout the article, the author provides examples of incorrect pronoun usage and offers corrected versions to help readers understand and apply the rules correctly.
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Reader Engagement: The article concludes by inviting readers to share their experiences with personal pronoun challenges and encourages them to discuss instances of pronoun misuse in speech and writing.
In essence, the article serves as a comprehensive guide for readers to navigate the complexities of using personal pronouns and reflexive pronouns correctly in various contexts.
