Rant: At least try to learn the English language

[Smith Corks One]

Nope - I'm not talking about immigrants. Hats off to them for doing what they have to do to try to find a better life. I couldn't care less what language they speak; I like variety and diversity. I'm talking about people - Americans - who don't have the slightest clue about when to use the word "I" and when to use "me." I know, I know, it's been brought up here before, and I think I've even [expletive] about it before; but this is the place to rant, and it's what I feel like ranting about right now.

I'm talking about people that should definitely know better. I'm a relatively new teacher, and at both the school where I student taught and the school where I now teach, this is an epidemic. I'm talking about English teachers, principals, people with Master's degrees and PhDs...otherwise intelligent, educated people who simply seem to have no concept of the difference between a subject and an object. Actually, it's just the compound object that gets them, but I cannot for the life of me see how this is so hard to grasp. The same people who would recoil in horror if someone said, "Me and Jenna are going out for lunch; do you want to join us?" will say - every goddamn time - "Do you want to go to lunch with Jenna and I?" It's nails on a chalkboard every time I hear it. I've probably heard this type of sentence construction five times this week and cannot recall once hearing it spoken correctly - and believe me, I would notice, because it's that rare. I personally avoid (correctly) using sentences with compound first and third person objects at school because of what these people will probably think of ME - how sad is that? Whatever. I rarely rant about anything at all, here or in real life, but this was grinding my gears this morning. I feel much better already.

Rave: 5 days off for Easter.

[wart57]

The one that drives me nuts is "I's", there is no such [expletive] word!

Example - "I am really excited about how Jennifer and I's relationship is heading".. WTF? Would you say I am excited about I's relationship? No, you say my relationship, so it should be Jennifer and my relationship!

[redbirdjazzz]

I approve of both of these rants. Part of the problem is that the whole "and I" construction has been hammered into everyone's head for so many years that it's hard to get over, even when the compound phrase in question is the object of a preposition. The other part of the problem is that too many teachers teach the rules without teaching the reasons for the rules. I did extensive writing throughout my educational career, but, even though I knew how to follow the rules, I'd never actually been taught any of the reasons for them (not just subject/object, but preposition usage, that/which, subjunctive mood, passive/active voice etc.). It wasn't until I studied Latin in grad school that I was able to really understand why I had to do things a certain way, and that understanding was the main reason I was able to be a good writing tutor and not just a good proofreader/editor.

[Molly]

Me approves of this rant

[jim]

I approve as well. My boss, who comes from the business consulting world, has an idea of what it is like to sound intelligent. It sounds forced at times, pretentious at others, and then there are times where is just sounds stupid. Rather than learn the simple grammatical rule that will allow you to make the right choice every time, I guess it's easier reduce the problem down to one of no choice.

What really irks me about the I/me issue, is that almost 100% of the time the person is trying to sound like they are speaking in an educated and polished way. It doesn't bother me when people say things like "Do you want to go with me and Joe". Yes, "Joe and me" is better, but I'm not a language lawyer. But when your intention to get it right and you are speaking in an unnatural way, and then mess it up - I just hate that.

[IMADreamer]

Quality rant.

I also hate people who end sentences in questions. "you know?" or "you know what I mean."

A long time ago I was doing hiring for a Senate campaign. One of the girls who was in college wanting to do a summer thing spoke like she was in a rap video. When I told her we decided not to give her the job she asked why and I said because she talked like she was in a 50 cent video. She unleashed a series of f bombs and probably is on food stamps now.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

This rant is a gift to I. I's approve.

[Radbird]

My sister-in-law chronically adds "no?" to the end of her sentences.

"You want to grab a bite to eat, no?"

"The Packers won today, no?"

"So you'll be here about 7ish, no?"

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

I like to add no just to make it a non-demonstrative statement. Like: That lot is in the floodplain, but the house FFE is above, no?

[lukethedrifter]

My daughter uses like more than possibly any other human.