Grammar Police: Too Much I, Not Enough Me

In elementary school, we learn to say “John and I” all the time. It’s formal. It’s polite. It’s right.

Or is it?

The Grammar Police have a lot to teach you and me. Image: sxc.hu

Actually, using and I when talking about being with another person isn’t always the right choice. It is often instinctual to use and I, since it was drilled into our heads throughout school, but sometimes, the correct term is and me. *Gasp* Yes; it’s true – you can use and me sometimes and be grammatically correct!

But when?

• Use and I when it is the subjects of the sentence. My fellow writers and I hate grammar mistakes.
• Use and me when it is the object of the sentence. Grammar is sometimes difficult for my fellow writers and me.
  

A good way to test yourself? Take out the other person so that you’re just using I or me. For example, if I were to say, “Jane and I are going to the park,” I could take out Jane and say, “I am going to the park.”

Or, if you say, “He game the book to my sister and I,” and you take out my sister, you’re left with, “He gave the book to I.” Wait, that doesn’t sound right! Clearly, it is better to use me in this situation.

You can see other Grammar Police posts by heading to this page.