I and Me

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Anonymous

#462283 Wed, 09 Jan 08 03:31 PM

Hi,

Is is correct English to say "me and my friend" or "my friend and I". When, if ever, do we use "me" first?

Anonymous

Kooyeen

#462323 Wed, 09 Jan 08 05:26 PM

It's ok to use "me" first when it's an object of a verb:
They hit me and my friend with a baseball bat. (or ...hit my friend and me with...)

When it's the subject, some people don't accept it and say it's odd. In ESL tests it would be considered a mistake too. However, some people find nothing wrong with it, and you can hear it in everyday English:
Me and my friend were going to Alabama, and... (but: My friend and me were... is not common)
My friend and I were going to Alabama, and... (but: I and my friend were... is not common)

That's what I think and how I use "me". Smile [:)]

Kooyeen

Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005

Italy

Senior Member (4,069)

If you don't have a sense of humor already, it's about time you buy one.

Verbs

Grammar Geek

#462344 Wed, 09 Jan 08 06:36 PM

I tried to post this earlier but I had access issues. Kooyeen is qutie correct, except that "Me and my friend are going" is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. Anyway, here are my thoughts:

It can be correct to say either "my friend and I" or "my friend and me" depending on whether you and your friend are the subjects of the sentence or the objects.

My friend and I are going to the mall.

He invited both my friend and me.

By convention, we put the other person first, but there is nothing wrong with saying "He invited both me and my friend."

If you say "I and my friend are going to the mall" it will sound off to most natives.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (16,089)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Dido

#462353 Wed, 09 Jan 08 06:53 PM

The British Queen always says "My husband and I" and my British friends usually make jokes about it Big Smile [:D]

Dido

Joined on Wed, Apr 20 2005

Spain

Full Member (103)

Jokes

Rotter

#462404 Wed, 09 Jan 08 10:24 PM

In English and many other languages, you place the other party first.

My wife and I are ...

My girlfriend and I are ...

My friend and I are ...

You and I are idiots/intellectuals.

This is to pay some respect or rather give priority to the other party.

Rotter

Joined on Sun, Jul 24 2005

Japan

Regular Member (655)

Я люблю российских девочек.

Grammar Geek

#462438 Thu, 10 Jan 08 12:53 AM

Dido wrote:
The British Queen always says "My husband and I" and my British friends usually make jokes about it

Why is that funny?

Grammar Geek

Jokes

Delmobile

#462519 Thu, 10 Jan 08 06:15 AM

GG, I am ashamed to admit that I say "me and..." all the time as a subject. (Of course, I LIVE in Alabama.) It's not that I don't "know" better, it's just that in some contexts the right way sounds so stuffy to my ear.

However, there is never any excuse for "between you and I." Smile [:)]

Delmobile

Joined on Wed, Jan 2 2008

Mobile, AL, USA

Regular Member (556)

Grammar Geek

#462646 Thu, 10 Jan 08 01:38 PM

Delmobile wrote:

However, there is never any excuse for "between you and I."

Ugh!

Grammar Geek

Kooyeen

#462715 Thu, 10 Jan 08 04:40 PM

Delmobile wrote:
GG, I am ashamed to admit that I say "me and..." all the time as a subject. It's not that I don't "know" better, it's just that in some contexts the right way sounds so stuffy to my ear.

Yeah! Whoo-hoo, you rock! I love you!
Ok, sorry for my enthusiasm... that was too much, LOL Wink [;)]

Seriously, I'm glad to read that someone says "me" as subject all the time and it does sound good to them... Because everytime I saw learners ask about it (me included), the use of "me" as subject was treated like it was the most odd and childish expression on earth, just used by unducated people. So I just couldn't understand why I was hearing that all the time. Smile [:)]

Kooyeen

Expressions

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