Personal Pronoun I — How to Talk About Yourself
Quick Answer
Use I as the subject when you talk about yourself: I work here. I am tired. Always write the pronoun with a capital letter.
Example: I live in London.
I in Action — See the Pattern
- I live in London. — I am talking about myself.
- Yesterday I watched a film. — I stays capital in the middle of a sentence.
- Am I late? — I is still the subject in a question.
When to Use I
I is a subject pronoun for the speaker or writer. A subject can name someone doing an action, but it can also be someone with a feeling or in a situation: I am happy. I have a cold.
In an ordinary statement, I usually comes before the verb: I live here. In questions, a helping verb or a form of be can come first: Do I need a ticket? Am I next? Do not choose a pronoun only by counting the words before it.
Compare the subject form I with the object form me: I called Sam. Sam called me. After a preposition, use me: This letter is for me.
The Rule in One Line: Use I for yourself as the subject. Use me as an object. Remember that questions can change the word order.
Real-Life Examples With I
Read the sentence and notice the job of the highlighted pronoun.
- I work from home on Mondays. — Subject of work.
- I have two sisters. — Subject of have.
- Every morning I drink tea. — The pronoun stays capital.
- I am studying English. — I goes with am.
- Can I sit here? — I follows can in this question.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With I
Compare each incorrect full sentence (✗) with its correction (✓).
Use a capital I
✗ i live in London.
✓ I live in London.
The personal pronoun I is capitalised wherever it appears.
Choose the subject form
✗ Me work in a hospital.
✓ I work in a hospital.
Use I as the subject of this full sentence.
Do not use my on its own here
✗ My like coffee.
✓ I like coffee.
My comes before a noun, as in my friend. I can be the subject on its own.
Remember: Use I for yourself as the subject. Use me as an object. Remember that questions can change the word order.
Test Yourself: I
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. _______ live in Spain.
2. _______ am studying English.
3. Every morning _______ drink coffee.
4. _______ work in a hospital.
5. Do _______ need a ticket?
Practise the pattern
Write one statement beginning with I and one question beginning with Am I or Can I. Check the capital letters.
Next, compare I with me in sentences such as I called Sam and Sam called me.
Next lesson: Me: The Object Pronoun for the Speaker
Further reference: British Council: personal pronouns.
I’m Khamis Maiouf. I’m studying Health and Social Care and have completed Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Level 3 Hairdressing. I have taught ESOL in my community and helped students with GCSE English. I run English Teacher Site to help people learn and practise English.