Personal Pronoun I — How to Talk About Yourself

ByKhamis Maiouf
🌱 A1 · BEGINNER
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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 an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.

Question 1 of 5

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.

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