Practice
John and me or John and I: which is correct?
John and I are taking the train. The conductor will speak to John and me before we leave. The name John stays the same, but I and me have different jobs.
Choose John and I when the pair does the action, and choose John and me when the pair receives the action or follows a preposition.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
John and I /dʒɑːn ən aɪ/
The short answer
Write John and I when the pair is the subject: John and I need more time. Write John and me when the pair is the object: The manager called John and me. Say the sentence without John. If I works alone, use I. If me works alone, use me.
John and I will send the invoice today.
Why it works: John and I do the action will send, so the subject form I is correct.
5 more examples
-
John and I met the new neighbor.
The pair does the action met, so it is the subject.
Not this:The new neighbor met
John and me. What changes: The neighbor does the action, and the pair receives it, so me is correct. -
John and I are ready for the meeting.
The pair comes before are, so it is the subject of the sentence.
Not this:Please save two seats for
John and me. What changes: For is a preposition, so the object form me follows it. -
John and I cleaned the kitchen after dinner.
Both people perform cleaned.
Not this:Our parents thanked
John and mefor cleaning the kitchen. What changes: The parents do the thanking. John and me receive that action. -
John and I will wait outside.
The shorter sentence is I will wait outside, which confirms the subject form.
Not this:The driver will wait for
John and me. What changes: The shorter sentence is The driver will wait for me, so me is needed. -
John and I have known Sara for years.
The pair has done the knowing, so it is the subject.
Not this:Sara sent a message to
John and me. What changes: The phrase follows to, so it needs the object pronoun me.
Read the full guide
Find the main action before you choose the pronoun. Ask who does that action. If John and the speaker do it, choose I. If the action happens to the pair, or the pair follows a preposition, choose me.
Find the person who does the action
The subject does the main action. When John and the speaker do it together, use John and I. Look for the verb, then ask who performs it.
John and I planned the trip.
John and I are the people who planned, so the subject form I fits.
Complete the sentence: John and ___ are making dinner.
Use I: John and I are making dinner.
Use me when the action comes to the pair
Use me when another person does something to John and the speaker. The pair may be invited, called, thanked, or seen. In that position, it is the object.
The teacher asked John and me a question.
The teacher does the asking. John and me receive the action.
Choose the pronoun: Our friends invited John and ___.
Use me: Our friends invited John and me.
Check the word before the pair
Words such as to, with, for, from, and between are prepositions. A pronoun after a preposition uses the object form. That means John and me, not John and I.
The email was sent to John and me.
To is a preposition. You would say sent to me, so John and me is correct.
Complete the sentence: Please keep this between John and ___.
Use me: Please keep this between John and me.
Try the one-person check
Remove John and read the sentence again. Do not change the rest of the sentence. If I sounds correct in the shorter sentence, use John and I. If me sounds correct, use John and me.
John and I arrived early. I arrived early.
The host greeted John and me. The host greeted me.
Test the phrase: The guide spoke with John and ___.
The shorter sentence is The guide spoke with me, so write John and me.
Put the other name first
English speakers usually say John and I or John and me rather than I and John or me and John. This is a polite usual order. Choose I or me by grammar first.
John and I will bring the food.
John comes first in the phrase, but I is still correct because the pair will bring the food.
Put the phrase in common order: The photo includes me and John.
Write The photo includes John and me. The pair is the object of includes.
Before you go
Remember this
Use John and I for the people who do the action. Use John and me for the people who receive the action or follow a preposition. Remove John and say the shorter sentence when you need to check your choice.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "John and me or John and I: which is correct?"
How do I choose between John and I and John and me?
Find the verb or preposition. Use John and I when the pair does the action. Use John and me when the pair receives the action or follows a preposition. Remove John and keep the rest of the sentence to check the shorter form.
John and I met the new neighbor.
Is between John and I correct?
In standard English, write between John and me. Between is a preposition, and a preposition takes an object pronoun. The same pattern appears in with John and me and for John and me.
The new neighbor met John and me.
Why do some people use I after a preposition?
Some speakers connect I with formal English and use it too widely. Formality does not change the grammar after a preposition. The shorter sentence makes the choice clear: The note was for me, so it was for John and me.
John and I are ready for the meeting.
Should John come before I or me?
Usually, yes. English speakers commonly put the other person's name first: John and I or John and me. This is a polite usual order. The pronoun still depends on whether the pair is a subject or an object.
Please save two seats for John and me.
Does the one-person check work with every sentence?
It works well in ordinary sentences. Remove John without changing the rest of the sentence. If I fits, use John and I. If me fits, use John and me. Then read the full sentence once more to make sure the meaning is clear.
John and I cleaned the kitchen after dinner.