http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/4/cvrvc/Post.htm#573154Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:573154Yankee0http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/4/cvrvc/Post.htm#573154http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-573154.xmlHi Anon I don&#39;t know anyone who would say &quot;This is he&quot;. In that context, normal everyday usage would be &quot;This is him&quot;. If you feel uncomfortable with the grammar in &quot;This is him&quot;, you could say &quot;This is a picture of him&quot; instead. That would be acceptable to even the most prescriptive grammarian.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/4/cvrvc/Post.htm#573134Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:573134Anonymous1http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/4/cvrvc/Post.htm#573134http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-573134.xmlSorry if I ask something wrong. I am Russian so English is foreign for me. Suppose someone asks me what my brother looks like. I show a photo to the asking person. And what should I say in this case? &quot;This is he&quot; or &quot;This is him&quot; ? Thanks in advance.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/4/cvrvc/Post.htm#349346Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:349346MrPedantic2http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/4/cvrvc/Post.htm#349346http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-349346.xmlAnonymous wrote: It is grammatically correct to say "This is he" or "This is she". It is NOT grammatically correct to say "This is him" or "This is her" when you answer the phone. Suppose you're at a conference, Anon. Your neighbour wants to know which of the speakers on the platform is Stephen. He turns to you and says, Which one is Stephen? Do you reply: 1. "That's him speaking now." or 2. "That's he speaking now." MrPhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/4/cvrvc/Post.htm#348509Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:348509Bokeh3http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/4/cvrvc/Post.htm#348509http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-348509.xml"This is he". That is good English but not in everyday use. "This is him" is definitely wrong. I have known a few people to use "This is he" more as a display of "how well educated they are" rather than because it is part of everyday speech. Ikia wrote: You often hear, "It's me." That doesn't make it correct! Clive wrote: It's hard sometimes to explain why something sounds odd. Because it is not in everyday speech in your location. Anonymous wrote: The meaning of my life is she. I call this a Yoda construction after the character from Star Wars. It is toohttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#348502Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:348502Clive4http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#348502http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-348502.xmlHi, In the everyday world, if someone says 'Hello, can I speak to Clive, please?', I usually say 'I'm Clive' or 'This is Clive speaking' or simply the short form 'Speaking'. This last one is the most commonly said. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#348465Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:348465Anonymous5http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#348465http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-348465.xmlIt is grammatically correct to say "This is he" or "This is she". It is NOT grammatically correct to say "This is him" or "This is her" when you answer the phone. Hope this helps. Stephhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#195876Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:195876Anonymous6http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#195876http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-195876.xmlYes, I am quite aware of the ignorance of students and the faculty who teach them. . Scary, isn't it? Ikiahttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#195765Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:195765Taka7http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#195765http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-195765.xmlAnonymous wrote: Hi folks. Google brought up this forum when I did a search on "this is he" "this is him", so I thought I'd try to help. I can tell you that (at least from my own experience) it is quite common for people in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic U.S. to answer the phone with a "this is he/she." I personally have never liked the sound of this, but it is correct. "This is him" is definitely wrong. (I'm American, grew up in Pennsylvania, and have lived most of my adult life in Boston and D.C.) In case you're interested: A Frequently Asked Question about linking verbs concerns the correct response when you pick up the phone and someone asks for you. One correct response would be "This is he ." The predicate following...http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#195691Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:195691MrPedantic8http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#195691http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-195691.xmlIkia wrote: It is they (the educated) who call the shots. I hope not... See the comments at the bottom of this news item. MrPhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#195504Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:195504Ikia9http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#195504http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-195504.xmlIn general spoken English, it is acceptable to use "me" (the objective form of the pronoun) after a linking verb for the FIRST PERSON only. You often hear, "It's me." However, in teaching and among the educated, the nominative still prevails after the linking verb: This is he. This is she. It is they (the educated) who call the shots. Ikia Western NY, USAhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#195204Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:195204Anonymous10http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#195204http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-195204.xmlHi folks. Google brought up this forum when I did a search on "this is he" "this is him", so I thought I'd try to help. I can tell you that (at least from my own experience) it is quite common for people in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic U.S. to answer the phone with a "this is he/she." I personally have never liked the sound of this, but it is correct. "This is him" is definitely wrong. (I'm American, grew up in Pennsylvania, and have lived most of my adult life in Boston and D.C.) In case you're interested: A Frequently Asked Question about linking verbs concerns the correct response when you pick up the phone and someone asks for you. One correct response would be "This is he ." The predicate following the linking verb should be in...http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#188059Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:188059Taka11http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#188059http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-188059.xmlClive wrote: Hi, So, if the sentence 'The meaning of my life is she' were 'The meaning of my life is her' instead, does it sound natural to you? If not, why not? No, it sounds a bit unnatural. 'The meaning of my life is Mary ' sounds a little better. On the other hand, 'My problem is not you, it's her ' sounds OK. It's hard sometimes to explain why something sounds odd. I think one reason is that the high importance of what is being said, my statement about the meaning of my life, contrasts oddly with the use of the modest, humble little pronoun. It's like 'She's the most important aspect of my life but I won't bother to say her name'. The whole choice of words seems a little unnatural to me. I'd be inclined to...http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#187800Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187800nona the brit12http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/3/cvrvc/Post.htm#187800http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187800.xmlIs he under the tree? He is his brother.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187750Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187750Anonymous13http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187750http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187750.xmlis he under the tree.he is him brother.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187738Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187738MrPedantic14http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187738http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187738.xmlJust to wind back a little: I usually hear "Speaking!" too. If I heard "This is he", I would assume that the speaker was being a little humorous (or also ironed his jeans). MrPhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187699Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187699Clive15http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187699http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187699.xmlHi, So, if the sentence 'The meaning of my life is she' were 'The meaning of my life is her' instead, does it sound natural to you? If not, why not? No, it sounds a bit unnatural. 'The meaning of my life is Mary ' sounds a little better. On the other hand, 'My problem is not you, it's her ' sounds OK. It's hard sometimes to explain why something sounds odd. I think one reason is that the high importance of what is being said, my statement about the meaning of my life, contrasts oddly with the use of the modest, humble little pronoun. It's like 'She's the most important aspect of my life but I won't bother to say her name'. The whole choice of words seems a little unnatural to me. I'd be inclined to use the verb 'mean' in an...http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187559Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187559Taka16http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187559http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187559.xmlClive, So, if the sentence ' The meaning of my life is she' were 'The meaning of my life is her' instead, does it sound natural to you? If not, why not?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187554Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187554davkett17http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187554http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187554.xmlHello Clive, Your comment is respectfully requested on this other question by Taka: Post:187241http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187541Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187541Clive18http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187541http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187541.xmlHi, So, to summerize, is it: S+be+Nominative=&gt;Grammatically correct, but rarely used. S+be+Objective=&gt;Common usage. Yes. Cop: Which of these men robbed you? Witness: It was him . That's for simple sentences. If a relative clause follows, there is more variation, eg Robber: Yes, I confess, it was me that did it or Yes, I confess, it was I who did it. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187429Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187429Taka19http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187429http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187429.xmlSo, to summerize, is it: S+be+Nominative=&gt;Grammatically correct, but rarely used. S+be+Objective=&gt;Common usage. ?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187379Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187379Clive20http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187379http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187379.xmlHi Taka, CJ and I share the same opinion on this one. As for The meaning of my life is she, it sounds very odd indeed. Such an inversion might be OK in poetry or perhaps a song, but in everyday speech you'd say She is t he meaning of my life. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187303Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187303CalifJim21http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/2/cvrvc/Post.htm#187303http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187303.xmlHere's the most common formula that I hear. -- Is Taka there? -- Speaking. Once in a very great while I do hear "This is he", so it is used on a rare occasion. I don't believe I've heard "This is him", though I'm sure people use that one, too. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#187147Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187147pieanne22http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#187147http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187147.xmlAnother possible answer would be "himself!" or "herself!".http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#187118Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187118Taka23http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#187118http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187118.xmlDavkett wrote: I sense, perhaps, a slight difference: considering oneself as a subject of attention versus an object of attention. Interesting, davkett. Now, Clive. Yesterday, I heard these words: The meaning of my life is she. To you, does it sound 'pedantic'? Do you think it should be 'The meaning of my life is her' instead so it sounds more natural?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#187116Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:187116Anonymous24http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#187116http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-187116.xmlDavkett wrote: I sense, perhaps, a slight difference: considering oneself as a subject of attention versus an object of attention. Interesting, davkett. Now, Clive. Yesterday, I heard these words: The meaning of my life is she. To you, does it sound 'pedantic'? Should it be 'The meaning of my life is her' so it sounds more like 'common usage'?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#186892Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:186892Clive25http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#186892http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-186892.xmlHi, I didn't say it wasn't said, I gave my opinion about common usage. I rarely hear anyone say that. If they do, it sounds to me a bit pedantic (Sorry, MrP), a bit forced, a bit self-conscious. Perhaps it's a 'regional' thing? Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#186864Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:186864davkett26http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#186864http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-186864.xmlThis is he , and this is him , mean virtually the same thing, and both are said. I sense, perhaps, a slight difference: considering oneself as a subject of attention versus an object of attention.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#186813Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:186813Taka27http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#186813http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-186813.xmlWhat!? You don't say "This is she", "This is he"? Are you sure, Clive?? I heard them quite often when I was in the States...http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#186783Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:186783Clive28http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#186783http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-186783.xmlHi Taka, If you are asking about common usage, I'd say that most people never use your words. We say things like This is Tom. stress on this That's me. stress on me I'm Tom. stress on I'm Is that the kind of answer you are looking for? Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#186777Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:186777rishonly29http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htm#186777http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-186777.xmlPersonally, I wouldn't use both:'this is he' &amp; 'this is him';and my preferences are following: 1) Yes, you are talking to Taka (2) Yes, it is me, Taka (3) Yes, I am Taka.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htmTue, 26 May 2009 12:31:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:186764Taka30http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHim/cvrvc/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-186764.xmlSuppose you are male and you got a phone call. And you picked up the phone and were asked if you were there. I think then you would say "Yes, this is he ." If I said "Yes, this is him " instead, would it be also OK? Would it make the same sense? If not, why not?