The main difference between me and myself is that me is an object pronoun while myself is a reflexive pronoun as well as the intensive pronoun of the personal pronoun ‘I’.
Pronouns are an essential part of the English grammar. Both me and myself belong to this grammatical category of pronouns, specifically to personal pronouns. Based on their usage and their category, there is a distinct difference between me and myself. However, there are ample situations where many people misuse these two pronouns in their usage
Key Areas Covered
1. What Does Me Mean
– Definition, Grammatical Category, Usage, Examples
2. What Does Myself Mean
– Definition, Grammatical Category, Usage, Examples
3. Difference Between Me and Myself
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Object Pronouns, Personal Pronouns, Reflexive Pronouns
What Does Me Mean?
Me is a personal pronoun, and particularly it is an object pronoun. An object pronoun is ‘a type of personal pronoun that is normally used as a grammatical object, either as the direct or indirect object of a verb or as the object of a preposition.’ Therefore, me functions as the object in a sentence. Furthermore, it is important to note that I functions as the subject pronoun.
Refer the given example sentences:
Robert came looking for me yesterday.
She lied to me in the first place.
Figure 01: Today’s guest lecture gave me valuable tips on completing my research
Are you telling me to sweep the room again?
Helena always asks me to help her.
In all these examples, me is the object pronoun of the sentences.
What Does Myself Mean?
Myself is also a personal pronoun, but it is specifically a reflexive pronoun, unlike me. A reflexive pronoun is ‘used to indicate to his/her own self’. Therefore, the doer and receiver of the particular action is the same person.
Refer the given example sentences:
I would like to consider myself a hard-working person
I made myself spaghetti
In both examples, myself is the reflective pronoun of the sentences.
Figure 2: I love to see myself in the mirror every day
Moreover, myself also acts as an intensive pronoun.
Eg: I myself created this marvelous piece of woodwork
Here, emphasis to the doer who is ‘I’ is given by the addition of the pronoun myself.
Difference Between Me and Myself
Definition and Grammatical Category
Me is the objective pronoun of the personal pronoun ‘I’. My self, in contrast, is the reflexive pronoun as well as the intensive pronoun of the personal pronoun ‘I’.
Function
Me is used only as an object in a sentence. On the other hand, my self is used to indicate one’s own self and for emphasis. However, note that myself always serves as the object of a sentence, not the subject.
Conclusion
Me and myself are pronouns in English grammar. Most people tend to misuse these two pronouns due to their lack of knowledge on their differences. The difference between me and myself is that me is an objective pronoun while myself is a reflexive pronoun. Myself is also used as an intensive pronoun at times.
Image Courtesy:
1. “388386” (Public Domain) via Pixabay
2. “2705706” (Public Domain) via Pixabay
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