Question

When to use I? When to use Me?

When do I use "Fred and I" and when do I use "Fred and me"?

Answer 1

It depends on whether the (pro)noun is being referred to as a subject or an object.

Explanation:

A recap of what a subject and an object is:
1. The subject is the doer of the action.
2. The object is the receiver of the action.

If it is a subject, you use I.
If it is an object, you use me.

Let's use this example: Freddie and I went to the mall yesterday.
In this case, I is used because Freddie and I are the subjects.
Why? Referring to #1, the subject is the doer of the action, and Freddie and I were the ones who did go to the mall yesterday. They were the one who went there. Therefore, they were the "doers" of the action.

Another example: My brother and I bought Christmas presents.
I is used since my brother and I are the ones who did the action - they were the ones who did the buying. Therefore, they are subjects.

And if it is a subject, you use I.

You use me only if the nouns are being referred to as objects.
For instance: Francine and her cousin met up with me and Freddie.
Looking at me and Freddie, we are being referred to as the objects because we are the receivers of the action. How so?
"Me and Freddie" weren't the ones who did the meeting. Therefore, they aren't the doers - they aren't the subjects. Because in this case, it was "Francine and her cousin" who met up with "me and Freddie."

Since "me and Freddie" were the objects, it is grammatically correct because they used me. If they said "Francine and her cousin met up with Freddie and I", it would be wrong, although people will still get the speaker's point.

Do you notice the bold sentence above? ("Me and Freddie" weren't the ones who did the meeting.) If I didn't put the quotation marks ("), then it would be considered wrong since it's supposed to be Freddie and I weren't the ones who did the meeting. If there were no quotation marks (Me and Freddie weren't the ones who didn't the meeting), then it's saying that "Me and Freddie" are the subjects. But remember- if it's a subject, you're supposed to use I! Hence, the correction. Freddie and I weren't the ones who did the meeting.

It's quite confusing, but I hope you'll understand!