GREEN for RIGHT
RED for WRONG
There is a tendency to say
Between you and I, I think she’s wrong.
instead of
Between you and me, I think she’s wrong.
The word between is a PREPOSITION, and when placed or positioned next to PERSONAL PRONOUNS, it is the OBJECTIVE CASE or FORM of the PRONOUN that should be used and not the SUBJECTIVE / NOMINATIVE CASE or FORM.
The sweets were to be shared between you and I.
The sweets were to be shared between you and me.
Go and sit between he and she.
Go and sit between him and her.
Put the screen between they and we.
Put the screen between them and us.
Pull up the chair between Helen and I.
Pull up the chair between Helen and me.
Would you stand in between Sarah and I?
Would you stand in between Sarah and me?
Compare these sentences:
1. After a while, my friend and I went home.
2. Tom sat between my friend and I.
3. Tom sat between my friend and me.
It is possible to use both my friend and I and my friend and me, as sentences 1 and 3 illustrate.
Sentence 1 is correct because my friend and I make up the SUBJECT in the sentence, and the PRONOUN I must be in the SUBJECTIVE FORM. Imagine using its OBJECTIVE FORM without my friend being included. The sentence would then read: After a while, me went home. (Don’t think so somehow!)
Sentence 2 is wrong because when the PRONOUN between is spoken or written, the OBJECTIVE FORM of the PRONOUN (which is me) must be used.
Sentence 3 is correct because me is the OBJECTIVE FORM of the PRONOUN which must be used after between. (Not necessarily immediately after between, but further along the sentence)
Complete these sentences with the correct form of the PRONOUN:
1. He and _____ ran off. (I / me)
2. They tried to start an argument between him and _____. (I / me)
3. My cousin and ______ bought sweets. (I / me)
4. I had to push my way in between _____ and ___. (he / him & she / her)
5. Shake the confetti between _______ and ____. (them / they & us / we)
6. She and _____ had an argument. (he / him)
7. Between you and ____ (I / me), the team didn’t have a chance.
8. I was told to share the sweets between ____ and me. (she / her)
9. He cycled down the road between Karen and ____. (we / us)
10. The Lotto winnings were divided between them and ___. (I / me)
ANSWERS: 1. I 2. me 3. I 4. him & her 5. them & us 6. he 7. me 8. her 9. us 10. me
My friend and I and my friend and me are both correct. I is used in a SUBJECTIVE context and me is used in an OBJECTIVE context. As between is a PREPOSITION, me (OBJECTIVE FORM of PRONOUN) must follow it.
Remember B.Y.A.M.
Between you and me, this is a tricky rule.