Pronoun as the Object of a Preposition

Object of a Preposition

A noun attached to a sentence by a preposition is the object of the preposition, which requires the objective case of a pronoun taking the place of the noun.

Wrong: A Grammar Book for You and I . . . . Right: A Grammar Book for You and Me . . . .

Many people make this mistake. You will often hear an array of flubs:

Wrong: It’s a big problem for she and I. Right: It’s a big problem for her and me.

Wrong: She gave a present to you and I. Right: She gave a present to you and me.

In the above, the words for and to are prepositions, forming prepositional phrases. Each preposition has two objects. For some reason, when people add two pronouns to a preposition, they often lapse into this mistake: the correct you and me becomes the distinctly incorrect you and I.

One would not say A Grammar Book for I, or It’s a big problem for I, or She gave a present to I. So don’t let the addition of a second object of the preposition lead you astray.

A Note to Parents

You should immediately correct the mistakes your children make when they use the incorrect case of pronouns. Your children will have a hard enough time learning the basics in school and an even harder time learning the rules on the job. So you must step into the breach.

 

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