Correct use of "I" and "Me"

Question

HelloI have had some lively discussions with native English speakers (which I am not) about the correct use of personal pronouns in a particular case. They claimed, that the correct answer to the question "Who was it?" or "Who did this?" would be "Me." and not "I.".Based on the grammatical rules on the different forms of the personal pronouns to be used when they represent either the subject or the object of a sentence (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/page/grammartipiorme), I argued that the more elaborate answers to these questions would be "It was I." and "I did this." and that if one reduced them to the subject, what is left would be "I.". But then there's that situation when you knock at someone's door and they ask "Who is it?" and everyone I know, including me, would answer "It's me." And even though I'm convinced that it's grammatically wrong, it sounds right whereas "It's I." or "I." sounds wrong or at least awkward in that context.So what is correct and based on what rule?Thanks for your help

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

These responses are correct.

-- Who was it?
-- Me.

-- Who did it?
-- Me.

-- Who did it?
-- I did.

See

CJ

Englishmaven · Answer

It is I is technically correct, but few people say that. It's I would not be said at all. Most people say, "It is me," though you are right; it is not correct.

Anonymous · Answer

I HAVE CHECKED MY GRAMMAR BOOKS BEFORE POSTING

(1) Yes, the correct answer to "Who is it?" would be:

It is I, he, she, we, they.

(2) Yes, most people nowadays say:

It is me, her, him, us, them.

(3) Of course, it would be social suicide if a big, strong dude on an

American football team answered gently: It is I.

(4) I think that many (most?) books nowadays label

the object forms as acceptable. After all, you cannot fight the

majority.

(5) I have read, however, that some very tolerant, open-minded

professionals who tell us ordinary people that the object forms are

now acceptable continue to use the nominative forms themselves in

professional writings, lest their colleagues form a low opinion of them.

(6) You have to decide whether or not you wish to go against the

tide. A few people, such as I, continue to say and write "It

is I." (Of course, nowadays many people might actually

say that "It is I" is wrong. What a nerve!!!)

*****

Although I am only an anonymous visitor, may I welcome you to

EnglishForward. You will soon discover the names of members who have

earned a reputation for giving informed answers.

*****

P. S. It seems, however, that the correct "This secret is just

between you and me" is rapidly becoming among

native speakers the incorrect "... is just between you and I."

Go figure!!!

Anonymous · Answer

I'm not aware of any other rules than what I learned in college (which I didn't complete). I am certainly no expert, but you are correct in saying that "It was I." Like you, I was taught that one would use the correct pronoun as though the whole response was being spoken, even though we all reduce it to "I" or "Me."

Now, I need to know something. I was also taught that when using "I" and "Me," one should reduce the sentence to see which is correct. For instance;

Correct-My mom is going to town with my sister and me. My mom is going to town with (my sister and) me. This sounds correct, right?

Incorrect-My mom is going to town with my sister and I. My mom is going to town with (my sister and) I.

Also, I see captions under pictures that say something like, "My brother and I." Shouldn't it be "My brother and me?" This drives me nut because I don't know which is correct.

Thank you!

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousNow, I need to know something. I was also taught that when using "I" and "Me," one should reduce the sentence to see which is correct. For instance;
Correct-My mom is going to town with my sister and me. My mom is going to town with (my sister and) me. This sounds correct, right?
Incorrect-My mom is going to town with my sister and I. My mom is going to town with (my sister and) I.

This technique is correct.

AnonymousI see captions under pictures that say something like, "My brother and I." Shouldn't it be "My brother and me?" This drives me nut because I don't know which is correct.

Both are possible. The caption may be a reduction of "My brother and I are shown in this picture" or "This is a picture of my brother and me". Use the technique you explained above, and you will see that both are correct. It just depends on which full form you start with.

CJ

Correct use of "I" and "Me"

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