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Crissy Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Is it "me", or is it "I"?
Hello, and thank you to all who have had a part in making this site possible. I'm so glad that you are all here to help me answer my question.
I will have to share the background of my question before I feel comfortable soliciting answers. So, please, bear with me.
Early one evening, sitting in a bar, my friend informs me of a wager he has with the bartender. Aparrently, she had asked another customer about the cash lying on the bar, not sure whether it was a tip or not. The question that she asked was, "Is that for Megan and I?"
My friend corrected her, and the debate began. I agreed that the first person pronoun that the bartender had used was incorrect in this instance.
I attempted to explain why the question should have been either: "Is that for Megan and me?" or "Is that for me and Megan?". But my friend interrupted and said that the reasonning was as simple as the fact that she was asking a question, not making a statement.
This is where I disagree with my friend. If the bartender had stated "This is for Megan and I.", she would still be incorrect. The proper pronoun to use would still be "me".
That is where my argument stops, because I do not know exactly the rules for such things. I do know that in many instances, "I" is the correct pronoun. For instance: "I went to the store." instead of "Me went to the store."
Is this because of the type of statement: one is declaring posession; one is describing an action?
Please help us. I would like to know which of the initial questions is correct, as well as the rules and reasonning to back it all up.
That way, when my friend has to pay me for being wrong, he can be reimbursed by the bartender's payment.
Thank you in advance for all of your input.
Sincerely,
Crissy
I will have to share the background of my question before I feel comfortable soliciting answers. So, please, bear with me.
Early one evening, sitting in a bar, my friend informs me of a wager he has with the bartender. Aparrently, she had asked another customer about the cash lying on the bar, not sure whether it was a tip or not. The question that she asked was, "Is that for Megan and I?"
My friend corrected her, and the debate began. I agreed that the first person pronoun that the bartender had used was incorrect in this instance.
I attempted to explain why the question should have been either: "Is that for Megan and me?" or "Is that for me and Megan?". But my friend interrupted and said that the reasonning was as simple as the fact that she was asking a question, not making a statement.
This is where I disagree with my friend. If the bartender had stated "This is for Megan and I.", she would still be incorrect. The proper pronoun to use would still be "me".
That is where my argument stops, because I do not know exactly the rules for such things. I do know that in many instances, "I" is the correct pronoun. For instance: "I went to the store." instead of "Me went to the store."
Is this because of the type of statement: one is declaring posession; one is describing an action?
Please help us. I would like to know which of the initial questions is correct, as well as the rules and reasonning to back it all up.
That way, when my friend has to pay me for being wrong, he can be reimbursed by the bartender's payment.
Thank you in advance for all of your input.
Sincerely,
Crissy
Top answer
Hi Crissy, Welcome to English Forums. ' vs. 'Hi, it is I'.
- Hi Crissy, Welcome to English Forums.
- ' vs.
- 'Hi, it is I'.
- Here, with the 'be' verb, the subject pronoun is formally correct, but the object pronoun is colloquially so, and gaining more respectability year by year.
- Are these enough basics to answer your question?
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5 Answers
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Hi Crissy,
Welcome to English Forums.
'I' is the subject pronoun: 'I see a bear.''
'Me' is the object pronoun: 'The bear sees me.' (object of the verb); 'The bear ate part of me.' (object of the preposition 'of')
Where we get into trouble is 'Hi, it's me!' vs. 'Hi, it is I'. Here, with the 'be' verb, the subject pronoun is formally correct, but the object pro
Welcome to English Forums.
'I' is the subject pronoun: 'I see a bear.''
'Me' is the object pronoun: 'The bear sees me.' (object of the verb); 'The bear ate part of me.' (object of the preposition 'of')
Where we get into trouble is 'Hi, it's me!' vs. 'Hi, it is I'. Here, with the 'be' verb, the subject pronoun is formally correct, but the object pro
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MM,
So does she owe a round of beers?
I am ducking quickly and running fast.
This question doe
So does she owe a round of beers?
I am ducking quickly and running fast.
This question doe
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Thanks for the reference to a related thread. Although quite comical, it did give me the reminders and the terminology that I need to complete my argument.
I especially appreciate the mathematical portion of the discussion. That will be a huge help.
You see, I have always been a sort of an English buff. Although I never graduated, it was my major for a few years. My friend, on
I especially appreciate the mathematical portion of the discussion. That will be a huge help.
You see, I have always been a sort of an English buff. Although I never graduated, it was my major for a few years. My friend, on
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Not a chance, MH-- Crissy wins the bet... but she owes you and me a beer for helping out. So don't duck out; sit down and pull up a stein.
'Is that for Megan and me?'; 'Is that for me and Megan?'; 'This is for Megan and me.'-- object of the preposition 'for' in all cases, whether it's a question, an answer or a command.
'Is that for Megan and me?'; 'Is that for me and Megan?'; 'This is for Megan and me.'-- object of the preposition 'for' in all cases, whether it's a question, an answer or a command.
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The simplest way to decide which to use is to imagine the sentence without the other person.
You would say 'Is that for me?' not 'Is that for I?' so the correct answer is 'Is that for Megan and me?'
Other examples:
"I went to the shop' not 'Me went to the shop' so it would be 'Megan and I went to the shop'.
"I really enjoyed the show' not 'Me really enjoyed
You would say 'Is that for me?' not 'Is that for I?' so the correct answer is 'Is that for Megan and me?'
Other examples:
"I went to the shop' not 'Me went to the shop' so it would be 'Megan and I went to the shop'.
"I really enjoyed the show' not 'Me really enjoyed
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