Common Errors Grammar Tip 1

I versus me

Which sentences are correct? 

1. Please join Sarah and me for dinner. 
2. Please join Sarah and I for dinner. 

3. Daniel and me went to the meeting. 
4. Daniel and I went to the meeting. 

5. Between you and me, the plan is risky. 
6. Between you and I, the plan is risky. 

The correct sentences are A, D, and E. You may be surprised, but it’s true. I’m not gaslighting you.

I know that you endured years being corrected and instructed to use “I” instead of “me,” but the truth is that these days, most people overcorrect for “I.” In fact, “me” is the correct choice 50% of the time. 

When? Why? 

In sentences A and B, “Sarah and [the speaker/author]” is the object. The subject, “you” (i.e., the listener/reader), is implied. 

In sentences C and D, “Daniel and [the speaker/author]” is the subject. 

In sentences E and F, “you and [the speaker/author]” are the objects of the preposition “between,” while “the plan” is the subject. 

What does this mean? 

Subject pronouns and object pronouns differ (except for “you” and “it,” which are the same in both forms). 

• Subject pronouns: I, he, she, we, they 
• Object pronouns: me, him, her, us, them 

How do you know when to use each? 

There are two easy ways to determine which pronoun to use, “I” or “me.” 

How would you say or write each sentence if it was just you alone? 

In these cases, simply add in the other person to get the correct form of each sentence. 

But you can’t use that method with “between,” which requires both parts of a compound object to make sense. 

How would you say or write each sentence if you substituted “we” or “us” for the compound subject or object? Choose the pronoun that sounds more natural. 

If “we” sounds more natural, then use “I” in the compound subject. Both “we” and “I” are subject pronouns.

If “us” sounds better, then use “me” in the compound object. Both “us” and “me” are object pronouns.

That’s it—two simple tricks for determining “I” versus “me.” 

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