Common mistakes
I or me: choose the subject or object form
You're texting a friend: "Sam and I" or "Sam and me"?
I and me are words for the person speaking. You choose between them by checking the sentence around them.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
I or me EYE-or-MEE
The short answer
Use I as the subject; use me as the object of a verb or preposition. With two names, remove the other name and test the speaker alone.
Sam and I are packing the cups, and we're early.
Why it works: The pair does the action, so I joins Sam before the action word.
4 more examples
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Checking tickets
I'm checking the tickets, and Jo's waiting outside.
You check the tickets, so your sentence starts with I'm.
Not this:Jo's
helping Iwith the tickets. What changes: The speaker gets help, so me follows helping. -
Bringing lunch
Maya and I are bringing lunch, and we're early.
The pair brings lunch, so use I after Maya.
Not this:The teacher's waiting
for Maya and I. What changes: The phrase follows for, so the speaker's form is me. -
A phone call
The driver called me, and I'm ready.
The call reaches you, so me follows called.
Not this:The driver
called I, and I'm ready. What changes: The speaker receives the call, so me follows called. -
At the front door
It's me at the front door, and I've got the key.
The reply names you after It's, so me sounds natural in ordinary speech.
Not this:Please send it
to I, and I'll check it. What changes: The phrase follows to, so use me there.
Quick check
Which line says the speaker is doing the sorting now?
Sorting labels
Answer: I'm sorting the labels.
Show the answer
Answer: I'm sorting the labels.
You are doing the sorting, so the form before the action word names the doer.
Read the full guide
At lunch, your friend asks who'll carry the boxes. You want one small word to sound right. Test the speaker alone before you answer.
Find the doer
The problem: I know the rule but still choose the wrong form when I speak.
At the bus stop, you tell a friend who is carrying the lunch. Ask who acts. You say, “I'm carrying the lunch.” If Jo helps you, you say, “Jo's helping me.” Ask who acts.
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I'm checking the tickets, and Jo's waiting.
Why it works: You do the checking, so your part starts with I.
-
The spare seat's for me, and I'm glad.
Why it works: The seat comes to you after for, so me fits there.
-
Not this:
Me's checking the tickets.Say: I'm checking the tickets.
You do the checking, so use I before the action.
Your turn
Which line shows Jo calling you?
On a bus
Answer: Jo's calling me, and I'm on the bus.
Show the answer
Answer: Jo's calling me, and I'm on the bus.
Jo does the calling, so you receive the action after calling.
Test the pair
The problem: I choose the form by the nearby name in phrases like Sam and I.
At the school gate, you and Maya carry boxes. Cover Maya with your hand and say the rest aloud. If I fits on its own, use Maya and I. If me fits, use Maya and me. Hide the name.
You and the other person do the action.
Maya and I are bringing boxes, and Leo's driving.
The action reaches you and the other person.
The teacher's waiting for Maya and me.
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Leo and I are early, and we're carrying signs.
Why it works: Hide Leo. The form I fits before are carrying, so use Leo and I.
-
The coach's calling Leo and me, and we're ready.
Why it works: Hide Leo. Me fits after calling, so use Leo and me.
Your turn
Which word fits after Maya and before are carrying?
Carrying boxes
Answer: Maya and I are carrying boxes, and we're late.
Show the answer
Answer: I
The joined phrase does the action, so I fits before are carrying.
Hear spoken me
The problem: I hear me at the start of a sentence and do not know if it is wrong.
At your friend's door, you and Sam wait for a taxi. In informal speech, you may hear “Sam and me” as the subject. This is nonstandard in edited English. Use “Sam and I” in standard English. Check the setting.
You may hear this nonstandard form at the start in everyday talk.
Sam and me are waiting, and we're outside.
For your writing, choose the acting pair.
Sam and I are waiting, and we're outside.
Your turn
Which line uses the informal, nonstandard subject me described above?
Waiting outside
Answer: Sam and me are waiting, and we're outside.
Show the answer
Answer: Sam and me are waiting, and we're outside.
Cambridge records this use of me in informal speech. Standard edited English uses I when the pair is the subject.
Before you go
Question 1 of 4
Which line shows the speaker doing the action?
Packing before lunch
Answer: I'll pack the cups before lunch.
Show the answer
Answer: I'll pack the cups before lunch.
The speaker packs the cups, so I is the doer before pack.
Question 2 of 4
Which line uses the pair after the action word?
A coach on the phone
Answer: The coach's calling Sam and me.
Show the answer
Answer: The coach's calling Sam and me.
The pair follows the action word calling, so use me for the speaker.
Question 3 of 4
Which form fits after for?
At the front desk
Answer: The spare key's for me.
Show the answer
Answer: me
The blank follows for, so choose me for the person who receives the key.
Remember this
The trap is choosing by the nearby name. Test the speaker alone. Try one sentence aloud.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "I or me: choose the subject or object form"
What is the basic difference between I and me?
I is the subject form, so it identifies the speaker as the person doing or being something. Me is the object form, so it identifies the speaker as the person affected by a verb or named after a preposition.
I emailed the new schedule before breakfast.
The receptionist thanked me for arriving early.
How can I choose I or me when another name is included?
Temporarily remove the other name and read the sentence again. If I fits, use I in the joined phrase. If me fits, use me. The test works because the whole joined phrase has the same subject or object role.
Rosa and I booked the room.
The hotel called Rosa and me.
Is 'My brother and me are leaving' standard English?
This pattern is heard in informal speech, where me sometimes follows another subject joined by and. In standard edited English, use 'My brother and I are leaving' because the whole joined phrase is the subject.
Informal speech: My cousin and me got there early.
Standard edited English: My cousin and I got there early.
Should I say 'It's me' or 'It is I'?
'It's me' is usual in ordinary English when you identify yourself. 'It is I' is a very formal alternative and is now uncommon in everyday conversation, so it may sound stiff outside a formal setting.
Who is at the door? It's me.
Asked to identify herself formally, the speaker replied, 'It is I.'
Why do we say 'between you and me'?
Between is a preposition, and a pronoun after a preposition takes the object form. That makes me correct. The same pattern appears after words such as for, to, and with.
The plan stays between you and me.
They saved a seat for Nia and me.
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