Usage: I vs. Me

“I” and “me” are both first person singular pronouns. The former is used as the subject or part of the subject of a verb while the latter is used as the object of a verb or preposition. You can think of “I” as the doer of the action expressed by the verb and “me” as the receiver of the action.
 

Correct:

1. I clean my room every day.

2. I like what you did to your house.

3. Don’t tell me what to do.

4. It’s thanks to me that you got off with only a slap on the wrist.

5. Are you looking for me?

The 1st and 2nd sentences need a subject to perform the verbs “clean” and “like,” so “I” is used. The 3rd sentence requires an object to indicate who gets something or benefits from the verb “tell.” “Me” is the one receiving the action of “telling,” not the one performing it. The 4th and 5th sentences need an object to complete the ideas started by the prepositions “to” and “for.”  

Wrong:

1. She looked at I with tears in her eyes.

2. Will you give Charlie and I another chance?

3. If it were up to I, the plan would not push through.

4. It’s as perfect as it can get, me think.

5. Dean and me are going to the movies tonight.

6. While everyone else erupted into a panic, Kathy and me just sat immobile in our chairs.

The 1st and 2nd sentences need an object as they talk about who benefits from the actions expressed by the verbs “look” and “give.” The 3rd sentence requires an object of the preposition “to.” The 4th, 5th, and 6th sentences require a subject to perform the actions stated by the verbs “think,” “go,” and “sit.”

Moreover, when “I” is used as part of the subject of a verb, the other person (or persons) is mentioned first.

Correct: Polly and I saw everything.

Wrong: I and Polly saw everything.

Correct: Cathy, Debbie, and I go to a shelter for orphans once a month to volunteer.

Wrong: I, Cathy, and Debbie go to a shelter for orphans once a month to volunteer.

Correct: It is a coffee shop that my friends and I are planning to start.

Wrong: It is a coffee shop that I and my friends are planning to start.

The same rules apply to he vs. him, she vs. her, we vs. us, and they vs. them.

“He” and “him” as well as “she” and “her” are third person singular pronouns. “He” and “she” are used as the subjects of a verb while “him” and “her” are used as the objects of a verb or preposition. “We” and “us” are first person plural pronouns; “they” and “them” are third person plural pronouns.

Examples:

He wants us to finish the job he started.

Did you tell him the good news? 

She wants to know the secret of your youthful beauty.

Let her choose the cake flavor since it’s her birthday.

We have to go now or we’ll be late.

Can you give us a discount if we buy in bulk?

They needed help, so I gave it to them.

It’s up to them to decide what happens next.