Uploaded February 2013 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The most confusing mistake in English grammar -- Using I or me?
You think you are good at English?
No matter how proficient you are, I'm sure you continue to come across new words, grammar references or usages which, though appear technically right, are big time bloopers. And for those who are still getting a grip of the language, ha haha, what can I say, welcome to the club!
So, one of the most commonly made mistakes in English is the confusing confusion between using I or me?
How would it sound if someone were to say "Me love you" or "Me am ready". Or if your friend were to ask you "Are you following I?" or "Give it to I".
I'm sure your friend's going to instantly ask you "Who's Mr. I??"
Here are some rules that will help you choose between I and me:
Rule No 1)
'I' is nominative whereas 'me' is accusative.
The nominative case is used for the subject of the verb, i.e. the word which denotes who/what does what the verb says. The accusative case marks the object of the verb, i.e. the word which receives the action of the verb.
In the sentence 'He loves me', 'He' is nominative and 'me' is accusative.
Don't get it?
Ok, let's make it simple with Rule No 2)
'I' is used as a subject pronoun whereas 'me' is used as an object pronoun.
Hmmmmm??
We know that both 'I' and 'me' are pronouns.
The subject pronoun is used to refer to the one that does things. Like, in the sentence "He saw me", he is the subject pronoun.
The object pronoun is used to refer to the one who has the thing done to him. Now, in the same sentence, "He saw me", me is the object pronoun.
So when you have to ask someone to keep a secret, you say, "This is between you and me", 'you and me' is the object of the preposition 'between'.
Rule No 3)
If you are still getting confused between I or me, here's a cheat rule.
Remove the unnecessary parts in the sentence for correct phrasing.
For example, here's a test sentence: Is it "You and I should have dinner sometime" or "You and me should have dinner sometime". Confused?
Now, use the cheat-rule and remove a part of this sentence "You and" as is temporarily not required. Now read the sentence.
"I should have dinner sometime"
Or "Me should have dinner sometime" Now this definitely sounds nonsensical!
That leaves you with the correct answer, which is "You and I should have dinner sometime".
Let's try this cheat-rule again! Consider "You and (I or me) are going to the prom tonight".
Apply the cheat-rule of using I or me in the sentence all by itself.
We have "I am going to the prom tonight" vs "Me am going to the prom tonight".
Now we know that I definitely works for this sentence, so the correct usage would be "You and I are going to the prom tonight"!
Coming to the last rule, RULE no 4)
Try to expand the sentences wherever possible to avoid ambiguity! Compare the sentences with 'I' or 'me' and then go back to the shortened sentence.
Look at this sentence! Is it:
Mom likes icecream more than me. OR
Mom likes icecream more than I.
Not sure?
Write down the complete sentence by expanding it.
It has to be either "Mom likes icecream more than me like icecream" or "Mom likes icecream more than I like icecream".
Isn't the answer obvious?
Now go back to the correct shortened sentence, which would be "Mom likes icecream more than I".
Now let keep these secret rules of using 'I' or 'me' between you and me!
The most confusing mistake in English grammar -- Using I or me?
You think you are good at English?
No matter how proficient you are, I'm sure you continue to come across new words, grammar references or usages which, though appear technically right, are big time bloopers. And for those who are still getting a grip of the language, ha haha, what can I say, welcome to the club!
So, one of the most commonly made mistakes in English is the confusing confusion between using I or me?
How would it sound if someone were to say "Me love you" or "Me am ready". Or if your friend were to ask you "Are you following I?" or "Give it to I".
I'm sure your friend's going to instantly ask you "Who's Mr. I??"
Here are some rules that will help you choose between I and me:
Rule No 1)
'I' is nominative whereas 'me' is accusative.
The nominative case is used for the subject of the verb, i.e. the word which denotes who/what does what the verb says. The accusative case marks the object of the verb, i.e. the word which receives the action of the verb.
In the sentence 'He loves me', 'He' is nominative and 'me' is accusative.
Don't get it?
Ok, let's make it simple with Rule No 2)
'I' is used as a subject pronoun whereas 'me' is used as an object pronoun.
Hmmmmm??
We know that both 'I' and 'me' are pronouns.
The subject pronoun is used to refer to the one that does things. Like, in the sentence "He saw me", he is the subject pronoun.
The object pronoun is used to refer to the one who has the thing done to him. Now, in the same sentence, "He saw me", me is the object pronoun.
So when you have to ask someone to keep a secret, you say, "This is between you and me", 'you and me' is the object of the preposition 'between'.
Rule No 3)
If you are still getting confused between I or me, here's a cheat rule.
Remove the unnecessary parts in the sentence for correct phrasing.
For example, here's a test sentence: Is it "You and I should have dinner sometime" or "You and me should have dinner sometime". Confused?
Now, use the cheat-rule and remove a part of this sentence "You and" as is temporarily not required. Now read the sentence.
"I should have dinner sometime"
Or "Me should have dinner sometime" Now this definitely sounds nonsensical!
That leaves you with the correct answer, which is "You and I should have dinner sometime".
Let's try this cheat-rule again! Consider "You and (I or me) are going to the prom tonight".
Apply the cheat-rule of using I or me in the sentence all by itself.
We have "I am going to the prom tonight" vs "Me am going to the prom tonight".
Now we know that I definitely works for this sentence, so the correct usage would be "You and I are going to the prom tonight"!
Coming to the last rule, RULE no 4)
Try to expand the sentences wherever possible to avoid ambiguity! Compare the sentences with 'I' or 'me' and then go back to the shortened sentence.
Look at this sentence! Is it:
Mom likes icecream more than me. OR
Mom likes icecream more than I.
Not sure?
Write down the complete sentence by expanding it.
It has to be either "Mom likes icecream more than me like icecream" or "Mom likes icecream more than I like icecream".
Isn't the answer obvious?
Now go back to the correct shortened sentence, which would be "Mom likes icecream more than I".
Now let keep these secret rules of using 'I' or 'me' between you and me!
