I or Me

“I” and “me” are often confused in everyday speech, especially when connected to another pronoun or a name using the coordinating conjunctions “and” and “or.” For those who are unfamiliar with the grammar concepts, or who just want to know which one to use and when, there’s an easy way to decide if you should use “I” or “me” in the sentence.

Determine if it’s I or me

Example 1

John told Mary and (I or me) to go inside.

Did John tell I to go inside? NO

Did John tell me to go inside? YES

John told Mary and me to go inside.

John is the subject, and Mary and me (object pronoun) are the persons who are being told (verb) by John to go inside. 

Example 2

If David and (I or me) move to California, we’ll buy a beach house.

If me move to California? NO

If I move to California? YES

If David and I move to California, we’ll buy a beach house.

David and I (singular subject pronoun) are the persons performing the action of moving and buying (verbs).

Example 3

Just between you and (I or me), moving is a great idea.

Is it between we? NO; therefore, I won’t work.

Is it between us? YES; me is the correct form.

Just between you and me, moving is a great idea.

Between needs to be followed by the plural. So, we’ll use the plurals “we” and “us” to correct this sentence, where we=I and us=me.

Example 4

She taught him and (I or me) how to catch a ball.

Did she teach I? NO.

Did she teach me? YES.

She taught him and me how to catch a ball.

She (subject) taught (verb) him and me (object pronoun) how to catch a ball.

And last but not least. . . 

Never use	Always use
Him and I; her and I	Him and me; her and me
He and me; she and me	He and I; she and I

The Grammar Behind It

I

I is a first person singular subject pronoun and refers to the person doing the action of the verb. Use I if it’s the subject of the sentence.

• Subject-verb
• Mary and I (subject) went (verb) inside.

Me

Me is an object pronoun. In this position, me follows the verb and is the person to whom the action is being done. Use me if it’s object.

• Subject-verb-object
• The teacher (subject) told (verb) John and me (object pronoun) how to write.