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Grammar Help
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| igottaknow |
I'm studying for grammar test and need some help understanding when to use me/i. Ppl tell me use what ever sounds right, the only problem is I have difficulty hearing it in complex sentence structures used in standardized tests. The grammar rule is use the pronoun I when it's a subject and me when it's object.
For example:
Joe and me ate hot dogs. (obviously incorrect, should be I instead of me)
However, I have difficulty disecting the sentences in my prep book and figuring out whether it's a subject or object:
The only people in the theater on that stormy night were the usher and me.
By dividing the responsibility for the project between you and I, we should be able to complete it before Saturday.
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| moncster |
By dividing the responsibility for the project between you and I, we should be able to complete it before Saturday.
dividing between you and ME
The only people in the theater on that stormy night were the usher and me.
Usher and I were the only people in the theater? :conf: |
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| daffodil |
| just substitute another pronoun for me or i to see if it sounds correct. him, her and we can be substituted for me. he, she and they can be substituted for i. |
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| igottaknow |
| quote: | Originally posted by moncster
By dividing the responsibility for the project between you and I, we should be able to complete it before Saturday.
dividing between you and ME
The only people in the theater on that stormy night were the usher and me.
Usher and I were the only people in the theater? :conf: |
You're correct on both sentences but it only makes sense after I've reread the sentences knowing the right answer. |
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| igottaknow |
| quote: | Originally posted by daffodil
just substitute another pronoun for me or i to see if it sounds correct. him, her and we can be substituted for me. he, she and they can be substituted for i. |
The only people in the theater on that stormy night were they/them (the usher and me).
so you're saying they/them makes it easier to figure out that sentence? For some reason them sounds better. :conf: |
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| moncster |
Try an inversion:
They were the only people
Them were the only people |
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| igottaknow |
| quote: | Originally posted by moncster
Try an inversion:
They were the only people
Them were the only people |
thx, that works for me. So does that mean that usher and I are the subject of the sentence, then where is the object and verb? |
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| DigiNut |
Another easy way is to just try taking out the "and" and whatever comes before it.
I.e. take out "the usher and" - doesn't make too much sense to say "the only... were I".
P.S. Thank you for spelling "grammar" right. :p |
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| igottaknow |
| quote: | Originally posted by DigiNut
Another easy way is to just try taking out the "and" and whatever comes before it.
I.e. take out "the usher and" - doesn't make too much sense to say "the only... were I". |
Actually, I is correct and me is incorrect in that sentence.
| quote: | | P.S. Thank you for spelling "grammar" right. :p |
your (you're) welcome. :p |
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| DigiNut |
| quote: | Originally posted by igottaknow
Actually, I is correct and me is incorrect in that sentence. |
It shouldn't be. Does it actually say that in the answers? People have gotten that wrong so often that it's starting to become mainstream, and that disturbs me.
Think about what I just said - if you take out the usher part, the "I" sounds completely wrong.
Edit: But I guess you just want to get the marks, so you've gotta do what she says... I guess just do the opposite of what makes sense, lol. |
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| igottaknow |
| quote: | Originally posted by DigiNut
It shouldn't be. Does it actually say that in the answers? People have gotten that wrong so often that it's starting to become mainstream, and that disturbs me.
Think about what I just said - if you take out the usher part, the "I" sounds completely wrong. |
I thought it was a typo in the book but Microsoft Word confirms that I is correct. Its one of thoses strange structures that the subject is at the end of the sentence, god i hate grammar. |
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| DigiNut |
| quote: | Originally posted by igottaknow
I thought it was a typo in the book but Microsoft Word confirms that I is correct. Its one of thoses strange structures that the subject is at the end of the sentence, god i hate grammar. |
You trust Microsoft Word? Word's grammar checker is the piece of that tries to up my scientific reports by telling me not to use passive sentences.
Seriously, it's not a weird exception to the rule, it's simply something that people have been getting incorrect for so long that other people are just giving up and accepting as correct. |
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