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

Translator: Alan Watson Reviewer: Leticia Ng

「me」、「myself」同「 I 」

Me, myself, and I.

You may be tempted to use these words interchangeably

你可能需要替互地用到呢啲字

because they all refer to the same thing,

因為佢哋都係指同一樣野

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

但其實，每個有佢哋自己特定的用處

"I" is a subject pronoun,

「 I 」係主格代名詞

"me" is an object pronoun,

「me」係受物代名詞

而「myself」係反身代名詞或強調代名詞

and "myself" is a reflexive or intensive pronoun.

So what does that reveal about where each word belongs?

所以呢樣野點樣提示咗啲字擺係邊？

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

就由主語同賓語嘅唔同講起

Imagine the subject as the actor in a sentence

想像一下主語係句子嘅主角

and the object as the word that is acted upon.

賓語係一個受動作嘅字

"I invited her but she invited me."

"I invited her but she invited me."

The object can also be the object of a preposition.

賓語亦可以係介詞嘅賓語

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

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

In some languages, like Latin and Russian,

喺某啲語言，就好似拉丁同俄文

most nouns have different forms that distinguish subjects from objects.

多數名詞有唔同嘅形式 去分開主語同賓語

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

但係喺英文裏面，呢個情況只係代詞至有

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

但其實你知點樣分主語同賓語嘅話

you can figure out what belongs where.

你就可以分得到邊個放喺邊度

And when you encounter a more complicated sentence,

同埋當你遇到更複雜嘅句子嘅時候

say one that involves multiple subjects or objects,

例如一句有多個主語或賓語

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

你又唔係好肯定用「 I 」定「me」好

just temporarily eliminate the other person,

咁就暫時唔好理句子裏邊嘅其他人

and once again distinguish subject from object.

然後再一次喺賓語裏面搵個主語出黎

Here's another.

呢度係另一個例子

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

你唔會講︰「Me heard gossip.」 但用「 I 」嘅話你就啱啦

Then what about "myself?"

咁用「myself」會點？

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

呢個字好多時會代替「me」同「 I 」

because it seems more impressive.

因為佢睇落更有說服力

"Please tell Jack or myself" may sound elegant,

"Please tell Jack or myself" 聽起上黎好似優雅啲

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

但其實，「me」先至係呢度正確嘅介詞

咁你可以喺邊度用「myself」？

So where should you use "myself"?

In its function as a reflexive pronoun,

作為一個反身代名詞

如果「myself」係句子嘅賓語，主語係「 I 」

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

whose subject is "I."

咁「myself」先會出現

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

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

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

「myself」亦能夠以強調代名詞嘅方式 做到強調嘅效果

"I, myself, have heard others agree."

"I, myself, have heard others agree."

句子就算冇「myself」都通順

The sentence works without it,

but that extra pronoun gives it oomph.

但加多個介詞可以加強語氣

To check if "myself" belongs in a sentence,

要睇下「myself」係唔係屬於一句句子

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

只需要睇下個句子有冇「 I 」 有「 I 」即係話「myself」係用黎呼應或強調「 I 」

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

呢個就係「me」、「myself」同「 I 」嘅分別

ever ready to represent you, yourself, and you.

隨時都可以代表你、你自己