As a language expert, I'm here to help clarify the nuances of English grammar and usage. It's a common point of confusion for many learners, and it's a topic that can be quite nuanced. Let's delve into the correct usage of "I" and "me" in sentences.
When you're deciding whether to use "I" or "me," it's important to consider the role that each pronoun plays in the sentence. "I" is a subject pronoun, which means it's used when the pronoun is the subject of the verb – the one doing the action. On the other hand, "me" is an object pronoun, used when the pronoun is the object of the verb – the one receiving the action.

Let's take the sentence you've mentioned as an example: "Jenny and me joined" versus "Jenny and I joined." To determine which is correct, we need to look at the verb in the sentence, which is "joined." This verb requires a subject to tell us who is doing the action of joining.

In the sentence "Jenny and me joined," "me" is used as the object of the preposition "with," which is implied in the sentence. The full sentence would be "Jenny and me joined with us," where "us" is the object of the preposition "with." However, when we omit "with us," it sounds like "me" is the subject, which is incorrect. The correct sentence should be "Jenny and I joined," because "I" is the subject pronoun and "joined" is the action that "I" and Jenny are performing together.

It's true that in everyday, casual speech, you might hear native speakers say "Jenny and me," especially in informal contexts. This is because spoken English often relaxes the rules of grammar to allow for more natural conversational flow. However, in formal writing and in contexts where correct grammar is important, using "I" as the subject pronoun is the preferred choice.

It's also worth noting that the confusion often arises because we tend to think about the pronoun in isolation rather than considering its role in the sentence. A helpful trick is to remove the other person from the sentence and see if the remaining pronoun makes sense. For example, if you take "Jenny and" away from the sentence, you're left with "me joined" or "I joined." It's clear that "I joined" is grammatically correct, as "I" is the subject performing the action.

In conclusion, while "Jenny and me" might be acceptable in casual speech, "Jenny and I" is the grammatically correct choice when the sentence is written down, especially in formal contexts. Understanding the difference between subject and object pronouns is key to using "I" and "me" correctly.

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In sentence a), Jenny and me/I are the subjects of the verb joined. Therefore, the subject pronoun, I, is considered correct. You will certainly hear native speakers say, --Jenny and me,-- and it may be acceptable in spoken English, but most traditional grammarians and English teachers will disapprove.read more >>