Me: The Object Pronoun for the Speaker

ByKhamis Maiouf
🌱 A1 · BEGINNER
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Quick Answer

Me is the object form of I. Use it after verbs such as call and help, and after prepositions such as with and for: Please call me. Come with me.

Example: She called me.

ME in Action — See the Pattern

  • She called me. — Me is the object of called.
  • Give me the keys. — Me names the person getting the keys.
  • Sit next to me. — Use the object form after next to.

When to Use ME

I and me refer to the speaker. Their jobs in the sentence are different: I helped Tom. Tom helped me. The person has not changed; the sentence structure has.

An object sometimes receives something, as in She gave me a book. But receiving an action is not a complete rule: in Sit with me, me follows a preposition. Learn useful patterns such as help me, to me, with me.

Look at the whole sentence. In Can I help?, I is the subject even though can comes before it. In everyday conversation, me also appears in It is me and short answers such as Who wants tea? Me!

The Rule in One Line: Compare I called someone with someone called me. Also practise preposition phrases such as with me and for me.

Real-Life Examples With ME

Read the sentence and notice the job of the highlighted pronoun.

  • Can you help me, please? — Object of help.
  • She gave me her phone number. — The number was given to me.
  • Tom called me last night. — Object of called.
  • Are you talking to me? — Object of the preposition to.
  • My friends invited me to a party. — Object of invited.

Three Mistakes to Avoid With ME

Compare each incorrect full sentence (✗) with its correction (✓).

Use me after called

✗ She called I yesterday.
✓ She called me yesterday.

I is the subject form; called needs an object here.

Distinguish me from my

✗ Give my the keys.
✓ Give me the keys.

Me names the person. My introduces a noun: my keys.

Use I as the subject

✗ Me like coffee.
✓ I like coffee.

In this full sentence, the speaker is the subject of like.

Remember: Compare I called someone with someone called me. Also practise preposition phrases such as with me and for me.

Test Yourself: ME

Choose an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.

Question 1 of 5

1. Can you help _______, please?

2. She gave _______ her phone number.

3. Are you talking to _______?

4. They invited _______ to dinner.

5. Come with _______ to the cafe.

Practise the pattern

Write a request with help me and a sentence with for me. Read them aloud, then compare me with I in I can help.

Next, learn you. Unlike I and me, you keeps the same form as a subject and an object.

Next lesson: Personal Pronoun YOU — Subject and Object in One Word

Further reference: British Council: personal pronouns.

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