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The sad part is that these expressions are either correct or wrong without any
middle ground. Unlike some expressions like “It is I” or “It’s me”, which can be
accepted formally or informally respectively, depending on the audience and
context, it is not acceptable in any situation to say “between you and I” in
whatever context.
In English, it is not acceptable to say “for I” or “for he” or “for she” or “for they”
or “for we.” Anybody who says such is looked at strangely like a murderer of
English. You can only say “for me” or “for him,” or “for her” or “for us” or “for
them.” So when you say “for you and I” or “between you and I,” you are
murdering the English language.
Pronouns usually operate in two positions: subject and object positions. When a
pronoun is taking an action, it is in the subject position, but when it is receiving
an action, it is in the object position. Most pronouns change their forms when
they move from being subjects to being objects. For example: “I touched him.
He touched me.” It will be grammatical murder to say: “Me touched he. Him
touched I.”
Excluding “it,” the pronoun “you” (singular and plural) is the one among the
pronouns (I, we, she, he, they) which does not change its form in the object
case. This situation makes the pronoun confusing. But note this:
When the expression is the subject (i.e. the doer of the action), it is “you and
I,” but when it is the object (i.e. the receiver of the action), it is “you and me.”
Examples:
The third situation is that in which the expression comes after a preposition (a
word that shows position or connection between one thing and another).
Examples: for, between, of, by, after, before, in, on, etc. Whenever a pronoun
follows a preposition, the pronoun MUST be in the object form (i.e. me, us, him,
her, them).
Examples:
For those who find it difficult to determine when the expression is the subject or
object, or cannot even identify what is a preposition and what is not, there is a
simple way of knowing when to use “you and I” and when to use “you and me.”
Since “you and I” means “we” and “you and me” means “us,” substitute with
“we” and “us” respectively. If “we” works, then the correct thing should be “you
and I,” but if “us” works, then the correct option should be “you and me.”
Examples:
(I)
You obviously exclaimed on reading the first sentence. That is how another
would shout on hearing you say, “Father wants you and I to come.” Since B is
correct, it should be “you and me”:
(II)
Does A sound terrible? Does it sound like Gringory or Aluwe talking? So, “you
and me” is wrong here.
(III)
You would describe A as outright illiteracy. So, just imagine what your reader or
hearer thinks of you when you say, “in you and I” or “between you and I” or
“for you and I.”
RIGHT: Remember that the same blood flows in you and me.
(IV)
Father loves you and loves me. (Father loves you and me).
There is human kindness in you and in me. (There is human kindness in you
and me).
You and I will finish the work tomorrow (You will finish the work tomorrow. I
will finish the work tomorrow).
Before they conclude, let you and let me discuss this for a minute. (Before they
conclude, let you and me discuss this for a minute).
Before they conclude, you will present your view; I will present my view.
(Before they conclude, you and I will present our views).
However, it needs to be noted that when a word like “between” is used (which
is usually the most used in this case), it will sound ridiculous to use this format.
Example: “This is between you and between me!” An issue cannot be between
only one person! So this code does not work when “between” is involved.
English has rules like all other languages. The excuse that it is not our mother
tongue is lame. English is the only “national language” Nigeria has. All other
languages are used by specific people. It is not compulsory that one should use
English for communication. But if one must use it, especially if one is in a
position of influence, one must strive to use it appropriately according to its
rules.