English grammar
Between you and me: I or me in a pair
Choose I or me correctly in pairs like Elena and I, between you and me.
From the scene Between you and I…
In short
In a pair, use the form you'd use alone: I before the verb, me after a verb or preposition.
Your turn
Which one goes with subject, with another person?
Options: Elena and I are · between you and me · my teacher and I
Show answer
subject, with another person → my teacher and I
How it works
In a pair, use the same form you would use alone. Before the verb, as the subject, it is I: Elena and I are the villains.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
And between you and (blank), the prologue is longer than the novel.
Options: myself · me · I
Show answer
And between you and me, the prologue is longer than the novel.
Y entre usted y yo, el prólogo es más largo que la novela.
Good to know
After a verb or a preposition such as between, for or with, it is me: between you and me.
Good to know
Quick test: take the other person out, since nobody says "me am" or "between I".
Good to know
In casual speech many natives say me and Elena, or between you and I, but careful writing avoids both.
subject, before the verb Elena and I are
Nuria
The other way round here. Take Elena out: would you say "me am"? So: "Elena and I are".
Aquí es al revés. Quite a Elena: ¿diría usted «me am»? Así que: «Elena and I are».
Your turn
What fills the gap?
The other way round here. Take Elena out: would you say "me am"? So: "(blank)".
Options: Between you and me · Elena and I are · My teacher and I
Show answer
Nuria
The other way round here. Take Elena out: would you say "me am"? So: "Elena and I are".
Aquí es al revés. Quite a Elena: ¿diría usted «me am»? Así que: «Elena and I are».
subject, with another person my teacher and I
Ramón
"Me"? That sounds common! At school, my teacher and I always said "you and I".
¿«Me»? ¡Suena vulgar! En el colegio, mi profesor y yo siempre decíamos «you and I».
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"Me"? That sounds common! At school, (blank) always said "you and I".
Options: Elena and I are · between you and me · my teacher and I
Show answer
Ramón
"Me"? That sounds common! At school, my teacher and I always said "you and I".
¿«Me»? ¡Suena vulgar! En el colegio, mi profesor y yo siempre decíamos «you and I».
after a preposition (not "you and I") between you and me
Nuria
Exactly. Same test: "between I"? Never. So: "between you and me".
Exacto. La misma prueba: ¿«between I»? Nunca. Así que: «between you and me».
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Exactly. Same test: "between I"? Never. So: "(blank)".
Options: between you and me · Elena and I are · my teacher and I
Show answer
Nuria
Exactly. Same test: "between I"? Never. So: "between you and me".
Exacto. La misma prueba: ¿«between I»? Nunca. Así que: «between you and me».
the test: take the other person out would you say "me am"?
Nuria
The other way round here. Take Elena out: would you say "me am"? So: "Elena and I are".
Aquí es al revés. Quite a Elena: ¿diría usted «me am»? Así que: «Elena and I are».
Your turn
What fills the gap?
The other way round here. Take Elena out: (blank)? So: "Elena and I are".
Options: between you and me · would you say "me am" · my teacher and I
Show answer
Nuria
The other way round here. Take Elena out: would you say "me am"? So: "Elena and I are".
Aquí es al revés. Quite a Elena: ¿diría usted «me am»? Así que: «Elena and I are».
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| subject, before the verb | Elena and I are |
|---|---|
| subject, with another person | my teacher and I |
| after a preposition (not "you and I") | between you and me |
| the test: take the other person out | would you say "me am"? |
More lines from the story
- NuriaAnd between you and me, the prologue is longer than the novel.Y entre usted y yo, el prólogo es más largo que la novela.
- RamónNuria, my prologue for Elena's novel. Correct it, but gently.Nuria, mi prólogo para la novela de Elena. Corrígelo, pero con cariño.
- RamónBetween you and me, you correct like Elena. Without mercy.Entre tú y yo, corriges como Elena. Sin piedad.