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

如何善用三種「我」的受格、反身、主格代名詞 - Emma Bryce

譯者: Ming Gui Tan 審譯者: Seke Wei

Me, myself, and I.

Me, myself 和 I

You may be tempted to use these words interchangeably

你會很想將這些字 交換使用

because they all refer to the same thing,

因為它們全都表示一樣的東西

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

但事實上，每一個字在句子裡 都有其特定角色

"I" is a subject pronoun,

I 是主格代名詞

"me" is an object pronoun,

Me 是受格代名詞

and "myself" is a reflexive or intensive pronoun.

而 Myself 則是反身代名詞 或強調代名詞

So what does that reveal about where each word belongs?

每個字的角色將決定其放置的位置？

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

我們從主格和受格之間的差別開始吧！

Imagine the subject as the actor in a sentence

想像一下主格是句子裡的行動者

and the object as the word that is acted upon.

而受格是接受行動的字

"I invited her but she invited me."

例如: 我（主格I）邀請她（受格her），但 她（主格She）邀請我（受格me）。

The object can also be the object of a preposition.

受格也可以是介詞的受格

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

例如: 她（主格She）繞著我（受格me）舞蹈， 而他（主格he）向著我（受格me）西迷舞過來。

In some languages, like Latin and Russian,

在一些語言中，像拉丁文和俄文

most nouns have different forms that distinguish subjects from objects.

多數的名詞都有不同的形式 來區別主格和受格，

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

但是在英文裡面， 只有代名詞有這樣的特性。

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

但只要你會區分主格和受格

you can figure out what belongs where.

你就自然知道什麼字該放在什麼地方。

And when you encounter a more complicated sentence,

而當你遇到更複雜的句子，

say one that involves multiple subjects or objects,

比如說一個句子裡 有好幾個主格或受格，

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

你不肯定到底要用 I 或用me，

just temporarily eliminate the other person,

那就先把其他人拿掉，

and once again distinguish subject from object.

再嘗試區分主格和受格。

Here's another.

再來一個例子。

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

你不會說 “Me聽到謠言” 但只要把 me 換成 I 就好了。

Then what about "myself?"

那 myself 呢？

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

這個角色重要的字常常用來取代 me 和 I

because it seems more impressive.

因為這樣聽起來比較厲害。

"Please tell Jack or myself" may sound elegant,

例如: “請告訴Jack和我自己（myself）” 這句話聽起來可能很優雅

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

但其實，“me”才是正確的代名詞。

So where should you use "myself"?

所以 myself 應該用在哪裡？

In its function as a reflexive pronoun,

身為反身代名詞，

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

“myself” 只能在句子的主格是 "I" 時

whose subject is "I."

myself當受格才是正確的

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

例如: 我（I）認為自己（myself）是 今年派對中最重要的代名詞。

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

Myself 也可以當強調代名詞

"I, myself, have heard others agree."

例如: 我（I）自己（myself）有聽到其他人同意。

The sentence works without it,

這句子沒有了 myself 也對，

but that extra pronoun gives it oomph.

但加了 myself 便增加其強調性。

To check if "myself" belongs in a sentence,

要看看 myself 到底屬不屬於某句子，

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

就只要看那個句子裡 有沒有一個被反射或強調的 I

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

所以，以上就是me、myself、 I 三種我的用法

ever ready to represent you, yourself, and you.

三者隨時可用來表示 you、 yourself、you三種角色的你！