The Word Guy: Learn correct usage of 'me,' 'myself' and 'I'

Welcome to Pronoun Boot Camp, soldier. Here, you'll receive basic training for hand-to-hand combat with “Me,” “Myself” and “I.”

This is your weapon: When two or more nouns or pronouns are involved, drop one of them, and your ear will tell you which pronoun to use.

For instance, you'd say, “I am going to the store,” so it's, “Sally and I are going to the store,” not “Sally and me are going.” You'd say, “The company promoted him,” so it's, “The company promoted Joe and him,” not “The company promoted Joe and he.”

Lesson No. 1: The subject of a sentence must be in the nominative case: John and I are classmates. (Me is a classmate? Nope.) We band members will play it first. (Us will play it first? Nope.)

No. 2: The object or indirect object of a verb is in the objective case: I saw Pete and her standing there. (I saw she standing there? Nope.) I gave Mary and them the money. (I gave they the money? Nope.)

(Because our parents told us to say “Barb and I,” not “Barb and me” in the nominative case, we're sometimes tempted to use “Barb and I” in the objective case.)

No. 3: The object of a preposition is in the objective case: Take this envelope to Henry and him. (Take this envelope to he? Nope.) Just between you and me, he's pedantic. (Not to be pedantic, but never say “between you and I.”)

No. 4: In most instances, the predicate nominative (a noun or pronoun that refers to the subject of the sentence) is in the nominative case. The winners are Terry and we. (Us are the winners? Nope.) But, in some informal situations, it's OK to use the objective case pronoun for a predicate nominative, e.g., That's her.

No. 5: Never use “myself” as a substitute for “I” or “me,” as in “Jane and myself are running” or “Give it to George and myself.” Use “myself” only reflexively (“I drove myself here”) or intensively “I myself was not driving.”)

See whether you've passed basic training by selecting the correct pronoun:

1. Brian and (her, she) are here.

2. Tell Forrest and (they, them) the story.

3. (We, Us) students salute you.

4. Just between you and (I, me, myself), Larry lied.

5. This book was written by Thelma and (I, me, myself).

6. Are you sure it was (he, him)?

7. Bring Carl and (they, them) with you.

8. The burden has fallen on (us, we) teachers.

9. What's best for Ryan and (they, them)?

10. I told Ted and (she, her) to drive.

Answers

1. she; 2. them; 3. We; 4. me; 5. me; 6. he (or him, informally); 7. them; 8. us; 9. them; 10. her

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Conn., invites your language sightings. Send reports of misuse , as examples of good writing, via email to Wordguy@aol.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 Third St., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.