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Pronouns: I, Me, My and Myself

Image result for pronouns“My friend and me went to the mall yesterday.”

Hey friends,

Were you able to spot the error in the above sentence? If not, this blog is for you. Today, I will tell you the correct usage of the pronouns: I, Me, My and Myself which will help you speak and write English correctly.

Why do we have four different words for one person?

What is the difference between these words?

Let’s find out!

  1. The subject pronoun I is used before the verb.

A subject does the action of a verb.

  • I went for bowling yesterday.
  • I saw a movie last night.
  • I ran around the park in the morning.

If you have a double subject, always use and I.

  • My friend and I love sweets.
  • My father and I enjoy movies.

Often, learners get confused about whether they should use me or and I. There is a way to confirm which one to use:

– Remove the other person from the sentence and see if it sounds correct:

So, taking the above examples, we use me to check if it is correct:

  • Me love sweets
  • Me enjoy movies

Both these sentences are wrong. Let’s try the other alternative– and I:

  • I love sweets.
  • I enjoy movies.

These sentences are correct. Hence and I should be used.

  1. The object pronoun me is used after the verb.

An object receives the action of the verb.

  • She gave me her diary.
  • My brother asked me a question.
  • My mother asked me to help her.

To talk about two or more people including yourself, use me and or and me.

  • This laptop belongs to me and my sister.
  • This laptop belongs to my sister and me.
  • This picture was taken by me and my friend.
  • This picture was taken by my friend and me.

However, most native English speakers use me as a subject pronoun. Sentences like “Me and my sister love shopping” are quite common. This is a casual and informal way of talking but should not be used in writing.

  1. Myself is a reflexive pronoun

Use myself when you have already used I in the sentence and are still talking about yourself.

  • I will take care not to hurt myself!
  • I gave myself a treat.
  • I bought myself these new shoes!

Myself is used after a preposition when the object of the preposition is the same as the subject of the sentence or when the object of the preposition and the object pronoun are the same.

  • I finished it all by myself.
  • I am ashamed of myself.
  • The HR team asked me questions about myself.

Remember: Myself should not be used after a preposition of place.

  • Incorrect: I asked her to sit next to myself.
  • Correct: I asked her to sit next to me.
  • Incorrect: I put my suitcase beside myself.
  • Correct: I put my suitcase beside me.

Is it wrong to say “I myself did it”?

Though it is not entirely wrong to say ” I myself did it “,  a better way to say the same thing is ” I did it by myself ” as by myself is a collocation.

Here are some more examples:

  • I went to the church by myself.
  • I cut the cake by myself.
  • I went sightseeing by myself.
  1. My is a possessive pronoun

It shows who possesses the noun.

  • This is my umbrella.
  • That’s my handbag.
  • Where is my notebook?

To show that you and another person both possess or have something, say:

  • This is my brother’s and my favourite dessert.

You know the trick: re-write the sentence and check if it is correct or not:

  • My brother and I love this dessert!

= I love this dessert.

  • My brother and me love this dessert!

= Me love this dessert.

I hope this cleared any confusion that you had between the pronouns I, Me, Myself and My. Keep reading our blog to learn English grammar!

Read our last blog here: Top 5 Ways to Improve Listening Skills in English