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GRAMMAR FOR DUMMIES
- Do you have questions about grammar or writing that you’d like answered?
- If so, just send us an e-mail and well get right back to you…for free.
Here’s an example of a common question, one that even stomps presidential candidates, teachers, and reporters.
QUESTION:
When do I use I, me, or myself?
ANSWER:
| Using “I” |
Use Subject Pronouns, I, he, she, you, we, they, who to name the Subject of a Verb:
- Joan and I attended the meeting.
- Philip and he wrote the report.
- I was given the job of calling the client.
Use Subject Pronouns to complete the Linking Verb To Be: am, are, is was, were
- The president is he.
- The winners were Alex and she.
- The new administrators are Juanita and I.
- HINT: the grammatically correct response when someone asks for you on the phone is: This is she [or he]. It is I.
- Explanation: When you use the verb “to be,” the subject pronoun at the end of the sentence re-names the sentence subject; therefore, you must use a subject pronoun.
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| Using “me” |
Use Object Pronouns, me, him, her, you, us, them, whom to complete Active Verbs and Prepositional Phrases.
- Please give Chris and her ride to the office.
- Always ask me for directions.
- Show me the money.
- Would you please tell me where to store this equipment?
- These reports are for Pat and him.
- This secret is just between you and me.
- I’ve sent the documentation to Fred and him.
- Is this for you and me?
- Please come to the meeting with Sally and me.
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| Using “myself” |
Use reflexive pronouns --myself, himself, herself, yourself, ourselves, themselves-- to reflect back to the person [or people] who performed the action.
- I did that myself.
- I did that by myself.
- The programmers finished the task themselves.
- We did that job ourselves.
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| Combination |
- On behalf of my team and me, I’d like to welcome you to the meeting.
[prepositional phrase completer and subject of a verb]
- As for me, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.
[prepositional phrase completer and subject of a verb]
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