English Word Traps.

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Permalink Reply by angel Hudepohl on July 2, 2009 at 3:19am

hi Paula ... yep, it's true :-)
'Myself' was used as an 'objective pronoun' (where we currently use ‘me’) AND ALSO as as a 'subjective pronoun' (where we currently use ‘I’).

In current practice ‘myself’ is used as a 'reflexive pronoun'.

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Permalink Reply by Bob McLean on July 24, 2009 at 12:01pm

yes and no.....I see this all the time and it drives me crazy!
"myself" "herself" etc. Is reflexive.

You can say, "I saw myself in the mirror this morning and didn't like what I saw"

or..."he shot himself"....or "I wash myself....every day..(or whatever)"

Get it?

But when you want someone to reply to you (for example) you need to say, "please reply to me directly. "me"....not "myself".. unless you want to reply to "yourself". I've been known to talk to "myself"....I just try not to move my lips.

Hope this helps.

I'll answer any and all questions.


Oh...and as to the first question.. the answer is..."this is for you and me"
with the word "this" representing the subject of the sentence, thereby making "you and me" both objects.
:)

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Permalink Reply by angel Hudepohl on July 2, 2009 at 2:30am

Hi Arnold ... there are some fine English grammar books for sale these days; but until you can decide which one's for you this might help:
Use ‘myself’ only when you have used ‘I’ earlier in the same sentence: 'I am not particularly fond of goat cheese myself' (Brians, Common Errors in English Usage).

Myself is also used in apposition for emphasis eg ‘I did it myself ‘and ‘I myself did it.’

And regarding, “This is for you and I”:  'for' is a preposition; it should govern the ‘objective case’.
Think of it this way: when you have two pronouns after a preposition, try mentally placing each one directly after the preposition. ‘For you’ should sound right to your ear, but ‘for I’ jars: ‘for me’ sounds much more natural. Since it's ‘for you’ and it's ‘for me’ it should be ‘for you and me’.

Ditto other prepositions, like between, to, from, with, by, and so on. :-) Angel

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Permalink Reply by Aimee Desjardins on July 1, 2009 at 10:15am

There are lots more traps and most people in correspondence make many mistakes. There are a few books you can purchase that most office people use when they have questions. McGraw Hill or Merriam Webster both brands offer a selection of writing aid books. They really are the most comprehensive reference manuals on usage.

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Permalink Reply by Victoria on July 1, 2009 at 10:34pm

There is a book "A Grammar Book for You and I (Oops, Me): All the Grammar You Need to Succeed in Life" that has been acclaimed by Writer Magazine as, "...a valuable grammar manual written in a highly accessible, conversational tone." maybe it will be useful for you.

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Permalink Reply by Tqed on July 4, 2009 at 6:42pm

Is it true that we can omit the word: “that” if the content of the sentence remains clear?
Is:
“I hope I will meet you soon.”
better than
“I hope that I will meet you soon.”

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