YOU AND I
OR
YOU
AND ME?
and
other
difficulties
with
the case of
personal
pronouns
in
English
by
Malcolm
Potter-Brown
Auksford
---
1994 / 2017 ---
Many people have difficulty
knowing when to
use You
and I and when to use You
and
me.
The rules are
really very simple.
The form I
is used as
the subject of the verb, the form me
is used as the object of a verb or if governed by a preposition.
Subject
I am here.
I hear you and I obey.
Object
Do you hear me?
Governed by a
preposition
The message is for me.
Give it to me.
This simple grammatical rule is not affected if the person is
plural. The form we is used as subject, the form us is used
as
object and when governed by a preposition.
Subject
We have been there.
We like singing.
Object
Our enemies hate us.
Governed by a
preposition
They are afraid of us.
The rule remains constant when the two components of the
first
person plural are listed separately. The form you and I
is used for the subject,
the form you
and me is used
for the object or when governed by a preposition.
Subject
You and I must work together.
Object
That puts you and me in our
place.
Governed by a
preposition
Between you and me ...
Is there anything for you and
me?
The insertion of an appositional noun does not affect the
rule.
Subject
We Catholics must try to
understand this.
Object
They have always persecuted us
workers.
Governed by a
preposition
What about us old age
pensioners?
The rules are the same for the third person pronouns he/him,
she/her,
and they/them,
and also the relative and
interrogative pronoun who/whom.
Subject
He is running away, she is
running too.
They are running away.
Who are they?
Object
Stop him! Stop her!
No. Let them go!
Whom should we stop?
Governed by a
preposition
I have spoken to him and to
her as well.
I have made it clear to both
of them.
To whom have you spoken?
In sentences containing relative clauses the case of each
pronoun is dependent on its function in its own clause.
He
who knows best must
decide.
(He must decide. He knows
best).
Let him
who is without sin cast the first stone.
(Let him cast the first
stone. He
is without sin).
He
whom I shall kiss is the
man.
(He is the man. I shall
kiss him.)
*
* * * *
For
permitted uses see Copyright
and Concessions
Index to the
Essays of Malcolm Potter-Brown
Auksford
Index
Contact
Malcolm Potter Brown at mpb.auksford@gmail.com
