Grammar question

[HungLikeJesus]

I disagree with all of you - it should be is.

[Sundae]

I remember the first time I was taught that "The group was shown round the castle" was correct. It sounded SO wrong to me.
Same with learning that "you and I" was not always correct, or that "too" can mean excessive as well as also and the letter H is properly pronounced "aitch".

It's all second nature now, but it's funny to remember how outraged I was at the time.

Interesting post and answers btw.

[Shawnee123]

My brother asked me about the 'you and I/you and me' thing. I told him whatever works alone is what you use.

You and I went to the movies. (I went to the movies.)

It doesn't matter to you and me. (It doesn't matter to me.)

I hear it misused by some fairly intelligent folks.

[casimendocina]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

My brother asked me about the 'you and I/you and me' thing. I told him whatever works alone is what you use.

You and I went to the movies. (I went to the movies.)

It doesn't matter to you and me. (It doesn't matter to me.)

I hear it misused by some fairly intelligent folks.

Wouldn't you just say "We went to the movies" (Here 'you' and 'I' is being used as a subject.
AND
"It doesn't matter to us/either of us" (whereas here it's being used as an object and this is what determines which pronoun you use).

If I've missed the point completely (entirely possible), let me know immediately.

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

My brother asked me about the 'you and I/you and me' thing. I told him whatever works alone is what you use.

You and I went to the movies. (I went to the movies.)

It doesn't matter to you and me. (It doesn't matter to me.)

I hear it misused by some fairly intelligent folks.

When I leave a voice message for my wife I often start with, "Hey, it's me..."

But I wonder if it shoud be "Hey, it is I..."

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

When I leave a voice message for my wife I often start with, "Hey, it's me..."

But I wonder if it shoud be "Hey, it is I..."

Either is correct, for each uses a different, and legitimate, grammatical road to reach its meaning.

"Me" is the objective case of the pronoun, the object of the verb "is."

"I" is the subject of the sentence, and the "it" is pointing towards the "I." So aside from sounding a touch Dudley Do-Right, you're all right. Which one you're going to use will depend on what subtleties of tone you want to convey.

What you wouldn't do is say, "Want to talk perfect, like I?"

[squirell nutkin]

You sly devil!

[Shawnee123]

You've missed the point completely.

Those sentences were just simple ones I came up with to make the point. No one ever has to go to the movies if they don't want to.

[Cloud]

So, to reiterate:

"

The only evidence were the affidavits."

Now, to me, that's incorrect agreement between the subject and verb. If "evidence" is the subject, then it should read, "The only evidence was the affidavits."

Do you think I'm right, and it should read, "The only evidence was . . . "?

[limey]

Originally Posted by Cloud

So, to reiterate:

"

Do you think I'm right, and it should read, "The only evidence was . . . "?

[professional linguist]Yes. [/professional linguist]

[BigV]

I think it is an unnecessarily awkward construction. I think your suggestion is an improvement. I think another improvement would be "The affidavits were...". That way you can marry the subject/verb agreement *and* keep the original singular evidence.

[Cloud]

thanks.

[Shawnee123]

Yeah, it would be "some good smoke" as in "damn, that was some good smoke your friend had."

[glatt]

Although I suppose you could say you want a smoke.

[Shawnee123]

Probably, but it is a causal relationship where casual created a casualty of the more formal language.

But I wonder if it shoud be "Hey, it is I..."

I call, therefore I am.