Archive for the ‘English Grammar’ Category

You and I or you and me?

May 18th, 2013 in English Grammar

Some people use I in expressions like you and I and my mother and I. Note that this is correct only when this phrase is used as the subject of a verb.

  • You and I have nothing to worry about. (Here the phrase you and I is the object of the verb have and hence this expression is grammatically correct.)
  • My mother and I are very health conscious. (NOT My mother and me are very health conscious.)

Here the phrase my mother and I is the subject of the verb are and hence the object form me is incorrect in this case.

  • My husband and I accept this invitation with pleasure.

When expressions like you and I act as the object of a verb or a preposition, the subject form I should change into the object form me. Since you has the same form in nominative and objective case, it doesn’t undergo any transformation.

  • It is a present from my husband and me. (NOT It is a present from my husband and I.)

Here the phrase my husband and me is the object of the preposition from.

  • There are few secrets between him and me. (NOT There are few secrets between he and I.)

Here the phrase him and me is the object of the preposition between.