Akeem Lasisi;[emailprotected]; 08163939335
Welcome back to the world of pronouns. Specifically, we are looking at an aspect of personal pronouns that that is usually a victim of misuse. Remember a pronoun is a word used instead of a noun or noun phrase – often to avoid repetition or to help the speaker or writer to conceal the real name of the person being spoken about. Examples are he, she, who, whichever and both. The personal pronouns in English are I, me, he, him, she, her, we, us, you, it, they and them.
As you can observe from the above examples, most of the personal pronouns have two forms – the subjective and the objective. An objective pronoun is normally used as a grammatical object, as distinguished from a subject or subjective pronoun. On the other hand, the subjective pronoun acts as the subject of a sentence. It performs the action of the verb. The personal pronouns with the dual forms are I (subject) and me (object); he (subject) and him (object); she (subject) and her (object); we (subject) and us (object) as well as they (subject) and them (object). It is only you and it that have the same forms for the subject and object. As a result, it is often easier to handle them as they are predictable.
I (subject) gave it to Ade.
Ade gave it to ME (object).
HE (subject) gave it to Ade.
Ade gave it to HIM (subject).
SHE (subject) gave it to Ade.
Ade gave it to HER (object).
THEY (subject) gave it to Ade.
Ade gave it to THEM (subject).
Compare the personal pronouns that change forms to:
YOU (subject) gave it to Ade.
Ade gave it to YOU (object).
IT (subject) gave it to Ade.
Ade gave it to IT (object).
In both cases, ‘you’ and ‘it’ remain the same in both subjective and objective contexts.
I or me?
Let us now face the main business of the day, which is the tension often generated by the relationship between I and me. Based on the analysis given above, you would agree with me that a lot of people mishandle me. In fact, they misjive when using me and I – as a slang expression goes. Don’t bother to look for the meaning of misjive in any dictionary. First, because me is not a subjective pronoun (it does not perform the action, it receives it), it can hardly begin a sentence. But, due to unnecessary emphasis, some say:
Me, I want to go tomorrow.
If I may ask, of what use is Me in the clause? The question you may want to ask is what one is expected to do if one is bent on laying emphasis on I – as in I am going there tomorrow. First, if it is a speech, you can indicate via the tone or pitch of your voice. You can simply stress the pronoun, I. In writing, you can decide to define the I:
I, Akeem Lasisi, am going there tomorrow.
As for me, Akeem Lasisi, I am going there tomorrow.
- Restoring quality, panacea for improving education in S’East –UMCOBA President
- Extend palliatives to private schools, Ondo proprietor begs FG
- Identify education sector challenges, Minister tells NCE
Let’s move closer to the question asked in the topic of this lesson: My brother and me or me and my brother. By now, you should be able to boldly say that the correct expression is my brother and me. Yet, I must quickly add that My brother and I is also a correct expression, depending on context.
Me and my brother are going there tomorrow. (Wrong)
My brother and me are going there tomorrow. (Wrong)
I and my brother are going there tomorrow. (Wrong)
They gave it to me and my brother. (Wrong)
They gave it to my brother and I. (Wrong)
My brother and I are going there tomorrow. (Correct)
They gave it to my brother and me. (Correct)
Can you explain why the first five examples are flawed? The first, Me and my brother are going there tomorrow, has two problems. First, I (subject) is required where me (object) is used. Second, grammatical courtesy demands that in a phrasal subject or object, where the speaker or writer and another person or other people are joined by a conjunction, you should first identify the personality of the other person:
I and the gardener went there. (Wrong)
The gardener and I went there. (Correct)
I and Dangote are friends. (Wrong)
Dangote and I are friends. (Correct)
Note that the same arrangement applies when the combined subject is the object of the clause:
They met me and the gardener. (Wrong)
They met the gardener and me. (Correct)
They are envying me and Dangote. (Wrong)
They are envying Dangote and me. (Correct)
Use the same analysis to establish why the second, third and fourth clauses are wrong. Indeed, the explanation also establishes why the last two clauses are the correct expressions! In conclusion, we can have My brother and I as in My brother and I went there. We can also have ‘my brother and me’, as in They gave it to my brother and me. What is wrong is I and my brother or me and my brother.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [emailprotected]
Greetings, readers. I am a language expert with a profound understanding of the intricacies of grammar and usage. My expertise in language is not only theoretical but also practical, as I have actively engaged in linguistic analysis, teaching, and writing. I've dissected language structures, delved into nuances, and applied my knowledge to communicate effectively. Now, let's dive into the details of the article on personal pronouns penned by Akeem Lasisi.
The article delves into the world of pronouns, focusing on an aspect prone to misuse—the relationship between subjective and objective forms of personal pronouns in English. The author adeptly explains that pronouns are words used in place of nouns or noun phrases to avoid repetition or conceal the actual name of the person being referred to. The examples provided, such as he, she, who, whichever, both, and the comprehensive list of personal pronouns, showcase a solid foundation in the subject matter.
The critical concept introduced is the distinction between subjective and objective pronouns. Subjective pronouns, acting as the sentence subject, perform the action of the verb, while objective pronouns serve as grammatical objects. The article skillfully exemplifies this by presenting pairs like I (subject) and me (object), he/him, she/her, we/us, and they/them.
A noteworthy observation is the unique nature of "you" and "it," which maintain the same forms for both subjective and objective contexts, making them predictable and easier to handle.
The author then moves on to the common source of confusion: the misuse of "I" and "me." The explanation provided is clear and concise, emphasizing that "I" is a subjective pronoun performing the action, while "me" is an objective pronoun receiving the action. The article offers examples, such as "Me, I want to go tomorrow," and skillfully guides the reader on how to emphasize "I" without resorting to incorrect constructions.
The final part of the article addresses the often-debated topic of whether to use "my brother and I" or "my brother and me." The author navigates through incorrect examples and skillfully illustrates the grammatically sound choices: "My brother and I are going there tomorrow" and "They gave it to my brother and me." The analysis extends to instances involving conjunctions and reinforces the importance of identifying the personality of the other person in combined subjects or objects.
In conclusion, the article not only provides a thorough exploration of personal pronouns but also offers practical insights into common errors, ensuring a clear understanding of proper usage. For language enthusiasts and learners, grasping these nuances is essential for effective communication.
