Me (Review) “He put suntan lotion on him and me” would be correct because him and me are objects. Specifically, they are objects of the preposition on. “He put suntan lotion on him” is obviously correct rather than “on he.” You would also say, “He put suntan lotion on me,” not “on I.” Pop Quiz Select the correct sentence. To choose between “I” and “me” correctly, start by simplifying the sentence by removing any other subjects or clauses until only the “I” or “me” remains with the verb. For example, if the sentence is “Hector and I went to the store,” remove “Hector and.”.
Why are there different ways of saying the same thing?
Grammar is a combination of rules and conventions. What’s the difference? Well, the rules are things like a verb must agree with its subject. By that rule, “he say” is incorrect. Then there are conventions, which are uses of language that are common enough that even though they break the “rules” they become “correct” simply through repeated usage.
In the introduction to the 2003 edition of The King’s English, Matthew Parris reminds us that “There is no authority. English is not a managed language. Nobody is in charge.” Over time, English speakers themselves become the authority. Some accepted conventions sound very natural, like saying “I’m good” instead of “I’m well.” And, through their common usage, they become accepted.
Is it “between you and I,” or “between you and me”?
So, what about “between you and I”? Technically, it should be “between you and me.” However, the phrase “between you and I” has become accepted as an idiom of its own. Even Shakespeare used it!
Confusing me and I is one of the most common grammar problems. Using the word I can sound learned and elite; however this leads to it being overused when it’s actually incorrect. This problem is called hypercorrect incorrectness.
The “you and me” problem is more confusing when there are two objects, like in the sentence “Thanks for inviting my husband and I to dinner.” If you’re ever unsure, here’s a simple trick. Omit the first person mentioned and see how it sounds. If you said, “Thanks for inviting I to dinner,” it sounds wrong. Whoops. Without two people, it is easier to use your ear to hear if I or me is grammatically correct.