Comments on: Smart People, Bad Grammar

By: Rebecca Fox

Rebecca Fox — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:50:22 +0000

The rules for using the pronoun “I” versus the pronoun “me,” are as follows: The pronoun “I” is used in the subjective case; that is, “I” is always used in three ways: 1) as the subject of the sentence, 2) after a linking verb, or 3) after the words “than” or “as” when used in comparison. The word “me” is used in the objective case; that is, it is used: 1) as the object of the prepostion, 2) the object of the verb, or 3) after “than” or “as” when not used in comparisons.
Examples:
Subjective Case
1) I am going to the store.
2) It was I at the door.
3) He makes more money than I.
Objective Case
1) The discussion will stay between you and me.
2) Throw me the ball.
3) The law applies to you as well as me.

In response to Thomas’s inquiry, the subject in the word group “That will just be between you and I,” is not “That.” There is no subject in this word group. It is implied rather than stated. FYI, the word “that” is never the subject. The problem is that we tend to write like we speak, and we speak incorrectly (technically) all the time, but we need to be more fastidious when writing.
I hope this helps.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 12:05:07 +0000

Thomas, it depends on the context. In “between you and me” you know that between is a preposition, and pronouns after prepositions go in the accusative form, that is why you need to use “me” and not “I.”

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:14:09 +0000

I have always used the simple test that if you would replace the “you and I/me” expression with “we”, then it is “you and I”. Alternatively, if you would replace it with “us” than it is “you and me”.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:53:38 +0000

The explanation really doesn’t explain this particular use, in “… between you and I”, because “I” is neither the subject nor the object in this sentence. The subject is “That” (as it’s the thing that “will be”) and I don’t think there is an object.

So, what to do in the case when “I”/”me” is neither subject nor object? Is it always “I” then?