Personal Pronouns: I vs Me β€” English Grammar (A1)

Grammar Β· Pronouns

Personal Pronouns: I vs Me

Two small words for you: I and me. Learn when to use each one with the film WALL-E.

Grammar β€Ί Pronouns β€Ί Personal Pronouns: I vs Me

The rule in one sentenceUse I when you do the action, and use me when the action comes to you.

About the film

WALL-E is a small robot. He cleans up rubbish every day. EVE is a white robot. He loves her. She helps him.

What do these words do?

You use them for people and things. You do not say a name again and again. You say I or me. You say he or him.

Look at WALL-E. He does the action. The action goes to EVE, so we say her:

He loves her.
She helps him.
They live on a ship.

Each word has two forms. One for the doer, one for the receiver:

Doer (before the action)
Receiver (after the action)
I love EVE.
EVE loves me.
You love EVE.
EVE loves you.
He loves EVE.
EVE loves him.
She helps WALL-E.
WALL-E helps her.
It likes WALL-E.
WALL-E likes it.
We help EVE.
EVE helps us.
They help EVE.
EVE helps them.

He likes her. (WALL-E → EVE) She likes him. (EVE → WALL-E)
The words change. The idea does not: the doer first, then the action, then the receiver.

You use these words for people, robots and things:

I love you.
The captain sees them.
WALL-E and EVE help us.
It is a small plant.

Visual guide

How to make it

Doer I / he / she / we / they

I / he / she+action
+

He cleans up rubbish.

They do not live on Earth.

I / we / they + do not · he / she / it + does not
?

Does he love EVE?

Do / Does + doer + action?

Receiver me / him / her / us / them

action+me / him / her
+

EVE helps him.

WALL-E is alone. Nobody helps him.

not + action + me / him / her
?

Does the captain see them?

Do / Does + doer + action + receiver?

When to use each one

I / he / she / they — the doer

  • Who does it: He cleans up rubbish.
  • First in the sentence: I love this film.
  • More than one doer: They live on a ship.
  • Things too: It is a small plant.

me / him / her / them — the receiver

  • Who gets it: WALL-E loves her.
  • After the action: The captain sees them.
  • After to, with, for: EVE is with him.
  • Things too: WALL-E finds a plant. He likes it.

Remember: doer or receiver?

Three small things to remember.

  • The doer comes first: I like the film.
  • The receiver comes after the action: The film makes me happy.
  • You and it do not change: You see it. It sees you.

Doer → before the action

Iyouhesheitwethey

Receiver → after the action

meyouhimheritusthem

Common mistakes

❌ Me love this film.

I love this film.

You do the action. The doer comes first → I.

❌ WALL-E loves she.

✅ WALL-E loves her.

EVE gets the love. The receiver comes after → her.

❌ Him cleans up rubbish.

He cleans up rubbish.

WALL-E does the action. The doer comes first → he.

❌ The captain sees they.

✅ The captain sees them.

The captain does the action. The robots get it → them.

One more thing

This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.

Two doers. When you and a friend do the action, say the friend first. Then say I. Do not say me and EVE.
“EVE and I go home to Earth.”

Practice: choose the right word

Eight questions. Choose one word. You get the answer, and why.

1. ___ cleans up rubbish every day.

WALL-E does the action. The doer comes first → He.

2. WALL-E loves ___.

EVE gets the love. After the action → her.

3. ___ live on a big ship in space.

The people do the action → They.

4. The captain sees ___.

The captain does the action. The robots get it → them.

5. EVE helps ___.

WALL-E gets the help. After the action → him.

6. ___ love you! (WALL-E to EVE)

WALL-E does the action. The doer comes first → I.

7. WALL-E and EVE help ___ come home.

The people get the help. After the action → us.

8. The insect is small. WALL-E likes ___.

The insect is a thing, not a person → it.

Your turn

Choose one word that is true for you. Then listen to your sentence.

My friend likes …

… like my friend.

Every word here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!

Keep going

Next lessonThe Verb Be →

Ready to listen?

Beginner episodes: one film, ten minutes, slow and clear English.

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