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Abil Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Alex, Fabby and I

One day, Alex, Fabby and I were going to the movie when ....

Can I also write the persons in the following order?

One day, I, Alex and Fabby were going .....
  

Top answer

Hi, Yes. But it's normally considered more polite to mention your friends first. It gives them more importance than you.

— Clive

  • Hi, Yes.
  • But it's normally considered more polite to mention your friends first.
  • It gives them more importance than you.
  • Clive
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16 Answers
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Hi,
Yes.
But it's normally considered more polite to mention your friends first. It gives them more importance than you.

Clive
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AbilOne day, Alex, Fabby and I were going to the movie when ..
... going to the movies ...
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Thanks Clive. So, it's more of politeness than of grammar.

Yoong, why plural movies?
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AbilThanks Clive. So, it's more of politeness than of grammar.

Yoong, why plural movies?

It's often in the plural. It has no difference in meaning in the singular (with th possible exception of knowing which, prementioned movie one is going to).
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AbilYoong, why plural movies?
the movies (plural) = the cinema

Let's go to the movies.

Let's go the cinema.
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Thanks Philip and Yoong.
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I don't agree on politeness. I think that "rule of thumb" was just made up by some prescriptive grammarian some time ago, and then became a kind of myth. I might be wrong, but I really don't think whoever puts "I" at the end does so out of politeness. The only reason why it is put at the end is that it is idiomatic to put it there.

And as a funny thing to think about... wh
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KooyeenAnd as a funny thing to think about... why should we give more importance to the others, in sentences like "Jack and I went to the movies"? Where is the implied politeness? In the fact I emphasize Jack's actions more? And why would I always want to do so? And what if I say "Jack and I made a huge mistake"? Would that mean I am giving more importance to Jack's
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Yoong LiatSo, it should be 'I and Jack made a huge mistake.'

Does that makes sense?
Hmm, nope, because I don't think it would be natural that way. It would be "Jack and I made a huge mistake" anyway, I think. Hopefully some native speakers will confirm this. And if so, there will still not be a sensible reason why putting "I" at the end should i
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Kooyeen
Yoong Liat
So, it should be 'I and Jack made a huge mistake.'

Does that make sense?
Hmm, nope, because I don't think it would be natural that way. It would be "Jack and I made a huge mistake" anyway, I think. Hopefully some native speakers will confirm this. And if so, there will still not be a sensible
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