When to use "me", "myself" and "I" - Emma Bryce

翻译人员: fengshuang gao 校对人员: Gabriella Hu

Me, myself, and I.

Me, myself, 和 I. (英语里“我”的三种语法形式)

You may be tempted to use these words interchangeably

你可能不由自主地”混用“这三个词

because they all refer to the same thing,

因为它们都代表同一个意思

but in fact, each one has a specific role in a sentence.

但事实上，每一个词在句子中都有特别的（语法）功能

"I" is a subject pronoun,

“I” 是主格代词，

"me" is an object pronoun,

“me”是宾格代词，

and "myself" is a reflexive or intensive pronoun.

“myself” 是反身代词或强势代词

So what does that reveal about where each word belongs?

那么他们的这些形式反映了 它们应该各属于（句子）的那个部分呢？

Let's start with the difference between subject and object.

让我们从主语和宾语的区别开始。

Imagine the subject as the actor in a sentence

把一个句子里的主语想象为（动作的）实施者

and the object as the word that is acted upon.

则宾语是（动作的）承受者。

"I invited her but she invited me."

“我邀请了她（宾格“her”）但她（主格“she”）邀请了我。”

The object can also be the object of a preposition.

宾格也可以是介词的宾语形式。

"She danced around me, while he shimmied up to me."

”当他对着我摇摆时，她绕着我跳舞“ ("对着"，"to";“绕着","around”是介词， 后接“我”的宾语形式“me” ——译注)

In some languages, like Latin and Russian,

在某系语言中，比如拉丁语和俄语，

most nouns have different forms that distinguish subjects from objects.

大多数名词有不同的变格来区分宾语和主语。

However, in English, that's only true of pronouns.

然而在英语中，只有代词有变格。

But so long as you know how to distinguish subjects from objects,

但只要你知道如何区分宾语和主语，

you can figure out what belongs where.

你可以分出哪个格式属于什么地方。

And when you encounter a more complicated sentence,

当你遇到一个更复杂的句子的时候，

say one that involves multiple subjects or objects,

比如说一个涉及了多个主语和宾语的句子，

and you're not sure whether to use "I" or "me,"

你不知道该用 “I” 还是“me”，

just temporarily eliminate the other person,

只要暂时删掉其它人，

and once again distinguish subject from object.

然后再一次区分主宾。

Here's another.

接着是下一个例子。

You wouldn't say, "Me heard gossip," but sub in "I" and you're good to go.

你不能说，“我（宾格“me”）听到了一个谣言” 用“I”代替“me”就对了。

Then what about "myself?"

那么“myself”又是什么呢？

This grand character is often substituted for "me" and "I"

这个长长的词总是代替“me” 和 “I”

because it seems more impressive.

因为看起来似乎更醒目。

"Please tell Jack or myself" may sound elegant,

“请告诉Jack或我（myself）” 听起来可能很优雅，

but in fact, "me" is the right pronoun here.

但事实上，“me” 在这里才是正确的代词。

So where should you use "myself"?

那么你应该在哪里用“myself”呢？

In its function as a reflexive pronoun,

作为反身代词，

"myself" only works if it's the object of a sentence

“myself” 只能做

whose subject is "I."

以“I”做主语的句子的宾语。

"I consider myself the most important pronoun at this year's party."

“我（I）认为我（myself）是本年度宴会上最重要的代词。”

"Myself" can also add emphasis as an intensive pronoun.

“Myself”还可作为强势代词加强语气。

"I, myself, have heard others agree."

“我（I），我本人（myself）还听到了其它人的同意。”

The sentence works without it,

这个句子没有“myself” 也正确，

but that extra pronoun gives it oomph.

但那个多余的代词给了它更重的语气。

To check if "myself" belongs in a sentence,

检查 “Myself”是否属于一个句子，

simply ensure that there's also an "I" that it's reflecting or intensifying.

只要简单确保它是一个 “I” 的反应或强调。

So that's "me," "myself," and "I,"

所以这就是我， "me", "myself", 和 "I",

ever ready to represent you, yourself, and you.

已可以代表你，"you", "youself", 和 "you" 的情形