AboutLaura Expertise I can help with questions about research projects, literature, and writing for middle school and high school. I can also help with on-line resources and integration of technology in learning.
Experience I am a certified library media specialist and language arts teacher.
Education/Credentials MEd Instructional Technolgy- 1999 Arkansas Tech University
BA English- 1995 University of Central Arkansas
Expert: Laura Date: 3/8/2005 Subject: English Grammar
Question Dear Laura,
Thank you for helping! My class was having this discussion about using "I" or "me". Elise wrote this sentence next to a photo:
"Me, just after going for a swim." (She wrote Myself" and I corrected it to "Me".)
"My brother's friend Mitch and me, standing next to a sandcastle." (I corrected it to "I".)
The whole class has had an interesting debate all morning and can't agree on the correct usage. Please help!
Helen Stearman Year 6 Teacher, Pascoe Vale South Primary School Victoria, Australia
Answer Hi,
Thank you for asking. I love grammar questions!
"Me, just after going for a swim." is incorrect in any case, as it is a sentence fragment. It could read, correctly: This is I, just after going for a swim.
"My brother's friend Mitch and me, standing next to a sandcastle." should read, as you suggested (and with a verb added): My brother's friend Mitch and I are standing next to a sandcastle.
When in doubt, frame a complete sentence, then eliminate all phrases (verbal, adjectival, prepositional, etc.) and see whether I or me sounds better. Most of the time, a person will get it right. All of those phrases seem to clutter our ability to recognize correct pronouns.
Laura
