English Lesson 102 - You and I or You and Me

Too often, people use I in expressions like you and I or my wife and I when they should be using me.

·         It is a present from my wife and me. (correct)

(me – objective case of I after the preposition from)

·         It is a present from my wife and I. (wrong)

(This is as wrong as saying from I.)

·         Keep this between you and I. (wrong)

(This is as wrong as saying between I and the post.)

Remember, prepositions govern the objective case. Therefore, the word I must change to me when it is the object of a preposition (i.e., follows the preposition).

The fact that it is preceded by you and or my wife and is actually irrelevant.

You should only use I in an expression like you and I when it is the subject of the verb

For example:

·         You and I argue on this subject on a daily basis. (correct)

(You and I — subject of the verb to argue)

·         My husband and I accept your apology. (correct)

(My husband and I — subject of the verb to accept)

If the terms objective case and subject of a verb are confusing, there is a neat trick to determine whether to use the you and I form or the you and me form. Simply remove everything apart from the I and try your sentence again. You will naturally use the correct version.

·      It was proposed by my wife and I/me.

Question: I or me? 
Step 1: Remove my wife and 
Step 2: Try the sentence again.
Step 3a: It was proposed by I. (wrong)
Step 3b: It was proposed by me. (correct) 
Therefore:

·         It was proposed by my wife and me. (correct)

·         It was proposed by my wife and I. (wrong)

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