Name: 【TED-Ed】When to use "me", "myself" and "I" - Emma Bryce
Uploaded: 2023-05-20T21:01:20.000Z
Duration: 2 min 57 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

To-infinitive

You may be tempted to use these words interchangeably because they all refer to the same thing,

but in fact, each one has a specific role in a sentence.

and "myself" is a reflexive or intensive pronoun.

So what does that reveal about where each word belongs?

Let's start with the difference between subject and object.

Imagine the subject as the actor in a sentence and the object as the word that is acted upon.

The object can also be the object of a preposition.

"She danced around me, while he shimmied up to me."

In some languages, like Latin and Russian,

most nouns have different forms that distinguish subjects from objects.

However, in English, that's only true of pronouns.

But so long as you know how to distinguish subjects from objects,

And when you encounter a more complicated sentence,

say one that involves multiple subjects or objects,

and you're not sure  whether to use "I" or "me,"

just temporarily eliminate  the other person,

and once again distinguish subject from object.

You wouldn't say, "Me heard gossip," but sub in "I" and you're good to go.

This grand character is often substituted for "me" and "I"

"Please tell Jack or myself"  may sound elegant,

but in fact, "me" is the right pronoun here.

"myself" only works if it's the object of a sentence whose subject is "I."

"I consider myself the most important pronoun at this year's party."

"Myself" can also add emphasis as an intensive pronoun.

The sentence works without it, but that extra pronoun gives it oomph.

To check if "myself" belongs in a sentence,

simply ensure that there's also an "I" that it's reflecting or intensifying.

ever ready to represent  you, yourself, and hmm... you.

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【TED-Ed】When to use "me", "myself" and "I" - Emma Bryce

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