Grammar for Everyone - Barbara Dykes 2007

I or me?
Introduction
Part II The parts of speech

Now is the ideal time to instruct students in the correct use of the pronouns I and me. This causes much confusion but is very easily explained once students understand the difference between the subject and the object.

The following table can be copied into students’ grammar exercise books and also be used for a display chart.

The earlier versions of second person still found in old bibles, early poetry and Shakespeare’s plays were thou (singular) and ye (plural).

Note: The pronoun stays the same when two people are mentioned. The trick is to think how it would be said before you add in the other person.

For example:

Subject: [He and] I want to buy the DVD.

Object: Dad gave [him and] us our pocket money.

Mum lost [her and] me in the shopping centre.

It is always polite to mention the other person first!

15.3 Activities: pronouns and objects

1. Students write their own sentences, or jointly compose them on the board, with various pronouns used as subjects or objects.

2. Students use the correct pronouns to fill gaps in sentences, using as many of the following as possible.

he, them, us, him, you, I, her, we, she, they

a. Tell ... won’t be there.

b. Lucy sent ... and ... a postcard.

c ... and ... are going to the fete.

d. Mr Baugor told ... off.

e. Can ... tell Jo and ... about it?

Checklist: direct and indirect objects

Students should now be able to:

• define the term direct object and explain how to check it (Ask what ?)

• define the term indirect object and explain how to recognise it (Ask for or to whom?)

• give examples of each in sentences

• explain the use of pronouns as objects, i.e. the correct use of I and me, etc.

• use pronouns correctly in written work