In Arcana posts the following points apply.
- words in inverted commas ("... ") are to be taken as individual words in quotation. In the following sentence "Kate" indicates the word –– it could be any word –– which shows the doer of the action.
If "Kate" is the doer of the action ... "
- words separated by slashes (...../.....) can be interchanged. Any one of them should work.
"Kate and I ..." or "... Kate and me"
This problem arises because personal pronouns (I, you he, us, them etc) still have special forms which distinguish nominative case (indicating the doer of an action) from accusative case (the person or thing to whom or to which an action is done). "You" and "it" are exceptions. These forms are as follows.
Nominative Case I you he she it we they
Accusative Case me you him her it us them
Now, "and" joins words of the same kind. If "Kate" is the doer of an action then any word joined directly to "Kate" by "and" must also be the doer of the same action. If "Kate" is the doer of the action (nominative vase), and the word joined to "Kate" by "and" is a pronoun, then the pronoun also must be nominative case.
Kate and I are going to Canada next year.
Kate and you/he/she/it (The dog?)/we/they are going to Canada next year.
Similarly, if "Kate" is the person to whom the action is done (accusative case), then any pronoun joined to "Kate" must also be accusative case.
Bob found Kate and me in the library.
Bob found Kate and you/him/her/it (Use your imagination!)/us/them in the library.
If two pronouns are being used as the doers of an action they also must be of the same kind.
You and I/he/she/it/we/they are going to Canada next year.
Bob found her and me/you/him/it/us/them in the library.
Bob found me/you/him/it/us/them and her in the library.
Too arcane? Post a comment and a question or email me.
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