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 βΊ Pronouns βΊ 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:
Each word has two forms. One for the doer, one for the receiver:
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:
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn β the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
Doer I / he / she / we / they
He cleans up rubbish.
They do not live on Earth.
I / we / they + do not · he / she / it + does notDoes he love EVE?
Do / Does + doer + action?Receiver me / him / her / us / them
EVE helps him.
WALL-E is alone. Nobody helps him.
not + action + me / him / herDoes the captain see them?
Do / Does + doer + action + receiver?When to use each one
I / he / she / they — the doer
me / him / her / them — the receiver
Remember: doer or receiver?
Three small things to remember.
Doer → before the action
Receiver → after the action
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.
Every word here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
Keep going
Ready to listen?
Beginner episodes: one film, ten minutes, slow and clear English.
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