uncle dick’s grammar lesson

[DickMidnight]

I really did like the tip about using 'I went to the store' to see if 'Jim and I went to the store' worked.

we’ve all been programmed to always use “I” by our parents because as kids we all fell into the habit of saying “me and my friend…”. but “I” isn’t always correct, and that’s a really easy way to check yourself before you wreck yourself.

 

[All4Eggz]

we’ve all been programmed to always use “I” by our parents because as kids we all fell into the habit of saying “me and my friend…”. but “I” isn’t always correct, and that’s a really easy way to check yourself before you wreck yourself.

I don't think you would necessarily "wreck" yourself when you use incorrect grammar. That's like saying you're dead because you got a splinter.

 

[DickMidnight]

I don't think you would necessarily "wreck" yourself when you use incorrect grammar. That's like saying you're dead because you got a splinter.

it’s an idiom. you can look that one up.

 

[All4Eggz]

it’s a euphemism. you can look that one up.

I was joking.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

we’ve all been programmed to always use “I” by our parents because as kids we all fell into the habit of saying “me and my friend…”. but “I” isn’t always correct, and that’s a really easy way to check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Could you give an example of when it wouldn't be? I can't think of any off the top of my head, though to be fair that's not saying much at this time of day

 

[NatJ]

For example, I don’t like the way capital letters look. I don’t use them when writing informally, but that doesn’t mean we should throw all the rules of grammar out the window.

Language has rules for a reason. When we all follow the same ones, it becomes a lot easier to communicate and understand each other.

I appreciate that you are using capital letters, even if you don't like them, to make this post clear. (Yes, I've read the entire thread up until this point-- but the capitals were all in place by the time I found it, so I'm complimenting their presence.)

 

[DickMidnight]

Could you give an example of when it wouldn't be? I can't think of any off the top of my head, though to be fair that's not saying much at this time of day

when you (the i in the sentence) are the subject.

the knee-jerk reaction to always being told to use “i” is to never use me.

so you get people who say stuff like “please tell frank and i what you saw the other day” when it should really be “frank and me”

 

[NatJ]

Could you give an example of when it wouldn't be? I can't think of any off the top of my head, though to be fair that's not saying much at this time of day

"John and I carried the groceries home." (I is correct.)
"The car carried John and me home." (me is correct.)

To check them:
"I carried the groceries home."
"The car carried me home."
(Leaving out John makes it clear when to use I or me.)

 

[DickMidnight]

I appreciate that you are using capital letters, even if you don't like them, to make this post clear. (Yes, I've read the entire thread up until this point-- but the capitals were all in place by the time I found it, so I'm complimenting their presence.)

i’m disagreeable, but i can admit when i’m wrong.

 

[ShrekDawg]

when you (the i in the sentence) are the subject.

the knee-jerk reaction to always being told to use “i” is to never use me.

so you get people who say stuff like “please tell frank and i what you saw the other day” when it should really be “frank and me”

"John and I carried the groceries home." (I is correct.)
"The car carried John and me home." (me is correct.)

To check them:
"I carried the groceries home."
"The car carried me home."
(Leaving out John makes it clean when to use I or me.)

See, these just sound extremely weird to me and I feel like it should be I guess that’s how much I’ve been conditioned to it hahah