he or him

Question

Which one is rightstically correct ?1. If i were he I wouldn't have accepted the offer.2. If I were him I wouldn't have accepted the offer.

Xerxes · Accepted Answer

marc93Which one is rightstically correct ?

FYI, there's no such word as "rightstically" in the English language.

marc931. If i were he I wouldn't have accepted the offer.

This is correct, but it looks a bit too formal/academic, perhaps. Most people today would be inclined to use #2:

If I were him, I wouldn't have accepted the offer.

I will preempt your thanks by saying "you're welcome" now.

GoodEnglish1 · Answer

You need the object pronoun "him".

Fivejedjon · Answer

GoodEnglish1You need the object pronoun "him".

Did you read what Xerxes wrote?

Marc93 · Answer

Thank you xerxes.
'rightstically' was just a typing error. What I intended to write was 'gramatically' actually.

So you mean, wherever we have fo use this sentence formally e.g in case of exam sort of thing, then we'dd have to write he instead of him.

Marc93 · Answer

Yes I did. What is your opinion @fivejedjon

Xerxes · Answer

marc93Yes I did. What is your opinion @fivejedjon

Marc93, I think Fivejedjon posed the question to the other respondent, "GoodEnglish1", a new member who is perhaps a bit rash in his haste to help.

"So you mean, wherever we have fo use this sentence formally e.g in case of exam sort of thing, then we'dd have to write he instead of him."

No, not necessarily. I do not believe that many people today - in the academe or in other formal settings - would seriously mark "him" as incorrect. It has become acceptable. If I were he is absolutely correct (and, strictly speaking, the really correct choice), but it seems a bit "stilted", if not archaic. Not many people I know would be likely to say that.

It's like this: imagine someone knocks on your door.
Q: Who is this?
A i): It is I.
A ii): It is me.

Strictly speaking, only the first one (It is I) is correct. But in practice, most people today will say "It's me!" when they knock on people's doors or answer the phone; and I would expect most grammarians to be tolerant of this as well.

Marc93 · Answer

Ok, i get it.Thanks xerxes for your time and such comprehensive explanation.

CalifJim · Answer

fivejedjonDid you read what Xerxes wrote?

There's strength in numbers. If one person tells me I'm handsome, I'm doubtful. But when everyone does, I begin to believe it.

CJ

Xerxes · Answer

CalifJimIf one person tells me I'm handsome, I'm doubtful. But when everyone does, I begin to believe it.

I know the feeling…

Tamguatlay · Answer

marc93Thank you xerxes.'rightstically' was just a typing error. What I intended to write was 'gramatically' actually.So you mean, wherever we have fo use this sentence formally e.g in case of exam sort of thing, then we'dd have to write he instead of him.

Another typo, marc, it should be "grammatically".

he or him

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