Short answer: The two forms of the personal pronoun in "Me or I" are first person singular pronouns. "Me" is an object pronoun used in objective case, whereas "I" is a subject pronoun used in subjective case. Using me is grammatically correct when it's used as the object of a verb in a sentence, and using I is grammatically correct when it's used as the subject of a verb in a sentence.
Because of the above-mentioned grammar rule, the phrases such as John and I, Jenny and I, Justin and I, Bob and I, Tom and I, Sarah and I, Jack and I, Suzy and I are grammatically correct, whereas the expressions such as Jenny and me, Justin and me, John and me, Bob and me, Tom and me, Sarah and me, Jane and me, Jack and me, Suzy and me are not grammatically correct; however, they are acceptable only in Spoken or informal English, and not in written or formal English.
Read the full article to learn all about correct, grammatical and situational usages of "me or I" with easy examples and clear explanations. Master all the rules governing the two forms of the personal pronouns in "Me or I".
This article covers:
- Me or I
- Me or I Grammar Rules
- When to Use Me or I
- When to Use Me or I Examples
- Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Me or I? - Which is Correct?
Both me and I are grammatically correct depending on the situation in which they're used. That is, me is a first person singular object pronoun used as the object of a verb in a sentence in objective case, whereas I is a first person singular subject pronoun used as the subject of a verb in a sentence. Have a look at the below-given examples which contain I and me used in subjective and objective cases respectively.
For example:
- I drink tea every evening.
- John told me that he would quit the job.
Example 1 uses the 1st person singular subject pronoun I in subjective case, because the situation demands the subject form of the pronoun to be used.
Example 2 uses the 1st person singular object pronoun me in objective case; again, the situation demands the object form of the pronoun to be used.
Why Are You Confused about Me or I?
The people speaking around you lead you to the confusion about using I or me. When involving in conversation with your family members, relatives or friends, you must have heard people around you say this way.
- Me and my friend will go to the movies today.
- Jack told your brother and I.
- Me will go to the movies today. (Incorrect)
- Jack told I. (Incorrect)
You can easily understand that the above-mentioned example sentences are grammatically incorrect, because, in example 1, the verb "go" requires the subject pronoun I, and not me, whereas, in example 2, the verb "told" requires the object pronoun me, and not I.
So, the correct sentences will be the following ones:
- I and my friends will go to the movies today. (Correct)
- Jack told your brother and me. (Correct)
Now that you comprehend why you are confused about using I and me, proceed to learn the English grammar rules to help you out with getting rid of this confusion.
Me or I Grammar: Rules about I and Me
Rule 1: "I" is a first person singular subject pronoun used in subjective case.
Examples:
- Me am going. (Incorrect)
- I am going. (Correct)
In example 1, using me is grammatically incorrect, because the verb phrase "am going" requires the subject pronoun I, and not me.
In example 2, using I is grammatically correct, as it's the subject pronoun in subjective case demanded by the situation.
Rule 2: "Me" is a first person singular object pronoun used in objective case.
Examples:
- Jenny told your mom and I. (Incorrect)
- Jenny told your mom and me. (Correct)
In example 1, in the highlighted phrase, using I is grammatically incorrect, because, when you remove the first part of the phrase, you're left with the following.
- Jenny told I.
You can easily spot the grammatical error that using I in "Jenny told I" is grammatically incorrect, because the verb "told" requires the object pronoun me and not I.
In example 2, in the phrase "your mom and me", using me is grammatically accurate, because, when you omit the first part of the phrase, you're left with the following.
- Jenny told me.
You can quickly discern that using me in the sentence "Jenny told me" is grammatically accurate, as the verb "told" requires the object pronoun me.
Rule 3: A subject pronoun mustn't be used instead of an object pronoun; similarly, an object pronoun mustn't be used instead of a subject pronoun.
Examples:
- John and me have taken breakfast. (Incorrect)
- John and I have taken breakfast. (Correct)
In example 1, in the highlighted phrase, when you remove the first part of it, you're left with the following sentence which is obviously grammatically incorrect.
- me have taken breakfast. (Incorrect)
In example 2, in the highlighted phrase, when you leave out the first part of the phrase, the remaining part is the following sentence which is grammatically accurate.
- I have taken breakfast. (Correct)
Now we invite you to the most important section of the article wherein you'll be exposed to grammatical cases of the pronoun I and the different situations in which the first person singular personal pronoun I and its all forms such as me, my, mine and myself are used.
When to Use Me or I?
The question "when to use me or I?" is actually about the grammatical case of the pronouns I and me. Try to wrap your head around the grammatical cases of the personal pronoun I.
- Subjective or Nominative Case: It is the grammatical case that refers to the subject pronoun, I as in "I spoke to her in French."
- Objective Case: It is the grammatical case that refers to the object pronoun, me as in "She told me about it."
- Possessive Case: It is the grammatical case that refers to the possessive pronoun, mine as in "This pen is mine."
- Reflexive Case: It refers to the reflexive pronoun, myself as in "I hurt myself in getting rid of the problem."
Also read: Cases in English grammar.
The following situations are the ones in which we've correctly used the pronoun I and all its forms. Learn why a particular form of the pronoun is used in a given situation by understanding the examples and explanations below them.
When to Use I?
1. Use I as a Subject of an Action Verb
Examples:
- I have walked a lot today.
- I fought with John yesterday.
- I'm running very slowly.
2. Use I as a Subject of a Linking Verb
Examples:
- I am John.
- I am Sofia.
- I am he.
3. Use I as a Predicate nominative
Examples:
- It is I who informed you of the incident.
- It is I who brought this to light.
When to Use Me?
1. Use Me as an Object of a Verb
Examples:
- He told me.
- Jenny will beat me up.
- Invite me.
2. Use Me as Object of a Preposition
Examples:
- Don't talk to me.
- She depends on me.
- Sofia took it from me.
When to Use Me or I with Another Person?
You can use the object pronoun me with another person when you're talking to your friends and colleagues even though the situation requires the subject pronoun I. that is, it's acceptable to use me with another person in spoken or informal English. You can say in spoken or informal English
For example:
- My friends and me are going to the market.
- Jenny told your son and I.
- There's a great difference between you and I.
Note that the above-mentioned example sentences are acceptable in informal English which NEVER means that they are grammatically correct.
On the other hand, you must use the subject pronoun I with another person when you're using formal English if the situation demands the subject pronoun I. You must say in written or formal English
For example:
- My friends and I are going to the market.
- John and I are best friends.
- Jenny told your son and me.
- There's a great difference between you and me.
Summary: Me or I?
In summary, in informal situations, you can use the object me with other person even though the situation demands the subject pronoun I, whereas in formal language or situations, you must use the subject pronoun I or object pronoun me with another person as per the demand of the situations.
So, the following phrases such as "me and my friends", "me and my mom", "me and Anne", "me and John", "you and me", "he and me", "she and me", "Jenny and me", "Justin and me", "John and me", "Bob and me", "Tom and me", "Sarah and me", "Jane and me", "Jack and me", "Suzy and me" are acceptable and OK to use only in spoken or informal English.
And the phrases such as "I and my friends", "I and my mom", "I and Anne", "I and John", "you and I", "he and I", "she and I", "Jenny and I", "Justin and I", "John and I", "Bob and I", "Tom and I", "Sarah and I", "Jane and I", "Jack and I", "Suzy and I" are grammatically correct and must be used in formal or written English.
Me or I Quiz and Exercises
Question Set 1: Use the appropriate me or I pronouns in the blank spaces in the below-given sentences.
a. ____and my parents are going to the market. (me or I)
b. Smith your friend and ____.(I or me)
c. There's a difference between you and_____(I or me)
d. John and____ are best friends. (me or I)
Question Set 2: Spot the grammatical errors in the following examples.
a. Jenny and me are good friends.
b. Sarah and me are going.
c. Tom and me are best friends.
d. John and I are roommates.
FAQs - Me or I
Me vs I
The main difference between me and I is that me is a first person singular object pronoun used as an object of a verb in a sentence in objective case as in "He told me that he would go to the market.", whereas I is a first person singular subject pronoun used as a subject of a verb in a sentence in subjective or nominative case as in "I told him that I would go to the market.".
Me or I in a Sentence
a. He informed me.
b. I was thinking about it.
c. He talked to me yesterday.
d. I will go to the market.
e. Your friends told him and me.
When to use I or me or myself?
a. Use I when there's a verb in the sentence which requires the subject pronoun, I as in "I told him".
b. Use me when there's a verb in the sentence which requires the object pronoun, me as in "he told me".
c. Use myself when you use the same subject pronoun in a sentence as in "I have hurt myself".
When to Use Me or I Examples
a. You and I are best friends.
b. There's a great difference between him and me.
c. Everyone will go except me.
Do I say John and I or John and me?
You must say "John and I" in sentences like "John and I are friends" in formal or written English. However, you can say "John and me" in sentences like "John and me are friends" in informal or spoken English.
Note that you can use both "John and me" and "John and I" in sentences like "difference between John and me" and "John and I are friends" in both informal and formal English.
Which is grammatically correct me or I?
Both "me" and "I" are grammatically correct depending on the situation. That is, "me" is grammatically correct when it's used as an object as in "He told you and me.", and "I" is grammatically accurate when it's used as a subject as in "He and I are going to the market.".
Which is correct Sally and me or Sally and I?
"Sally and I" is grammatically correct in sentences like "Sally and I are friends" in formal or written English. However, you can say "Sally and me" in sentences like "Sally and me are friends" in informal or spoken English.
Note that you can use both "Sally and me" and "Sally and I" in sentences like "there's a difference between Sally and me" and "Sally and I are friends" in both informal and formal English.
Is it Bob and me or I?
"Bob and I" is grammatically correct in the sentence, "Bob and I are friends" in formal or written English. However, you can say "Bob and me" in sentences like "Bob and me are friends" in informal or spoken English.
Note that you can use both "Bob and me" as in "difference between Bob and me" and "Bob and I" as in "Bob and I are friends" in both informal and formal English.
Is it Tom and me or I?
"Tom and I" is grammatically correct in the sentence, "Tom and I are friends" in formal or written English. However, you can say "Tom and me" as in "Tom and me are friends" in informal or spoken English.
Note that you can use both "Tom and me" as in "difference between Tom and me" and "Tom and I" as in "Tom and I are friends" in both informal and formal English.
Is it Sarah and I or Sarah and me?
"Sarah and I" is grammatically correct in the sentence, "Sarah and I are friends" in formal or written English. However, you can say "Sarah and me" in the sentence, "Sarah and me are friends" in informal or spoken English.
Note that you can use both "Sarah and me" as in "there's a great difference between Sarah and me" and "Sarah and I" as in "Sarah and I are friends" in both informal and formal English.
Which is correct my wife and me or my wife and I?
"My wife and I" is grammatically correct in the sentence, "my wife and I are best friends" in formal or written English. However, you can say "my wife and me" as in "my wife and me are friends" in informal or spoken English.
Note that you can use both "my wife and me" in the phrase, "difference between my wife and me" and "my wife and I" as in "my wife and I are friends" in both informal and formal English.
What is correct your dad and I or your dad and me?
"Your dad and I" is grammatically correct in the sentence "your dad and I are friends" in formal or written English. However, you can say "your dad and me" as in "your dad and me are friends" in informal or spoken English.
Note that you can use both "your dad and me" as in "difference between your dad and me" and "your dad and I" as in "your dad and I are friends" in both informal and formal English.
Is saying me grammatically correct?
Yes, saying me is absolutely grammatically correct when it's used as the object of a verb in objective case as in "He told me.", but saying or using me in the sentence, "my mom and me are going" is not grammatically correct even though it's acceptable in spoken or informal English.
Is it Jane or me or Jane or I?
"Jane or me" is grammatically correct in the sentence "He will tell Jane or me". However, you can say "Jane or me" in the sentence, "Jane or me are friends" in informal or spoken English.
Note that you can use both "Jane or me" in "difference between Jane and me" and "Jane or I" in "Jane or I is going" in both informal and formal English.
Me and John or John and I?
You must say "John and I" in the sentence, "John and I are friends" in formal or written English. However, you can say "John and me are friends" in informal or spoken English.
Note that you can use both "John and me" in "difference between John and me" and "John and I" in the sentence, "John and I are friends" in both informal and formal English.
Me or I at end of sentence
"Me" at the end of a sentence after a transitive verb or a preposition is grammatically correct as in "John told me" and "Everyone is going except me."
Except me or I
"Except me" is grammatically correct, because the word, "except" here is a preposition which requires the object pronoun, me.
Is it my teacher and me or I?
"My teacher and I" is grammatically correct in sentences like "my teacher and me are going" in formal or written English. However, you can say "my teacher and me" in sentences like "my teacher and me are going" in informal or spoken English.
Note that you can use both "my teacher and me" as in "difference between my teacher and me" and "my teacher and I" in sentences like "my teacher and I are going" in both informal and formal English.
Should I use me or myself?
You should use the object pronoun, me when the subject of the verb is not the same as in "He told me.", and you should use the reflexive pronoun myself when the subject of the verb is the same as in "I have hurt myself".
When do you use me or i?
We use the object pronoun me when it's used as the object of the verb in a sentence as in "He beats me" and the subject pronoun I when the verb requires it as in "I will tell him".
Is it me or i?
"Me" is grammatically correct when it's used as the object of a verb in a sentence, and "I" is grammatically accurate when it's used as the subject of a verb in a sentence.
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