Practice
He and I or he and me: which is correct?
He and I arrived early. The manager spoke to he and me after the meeting. The name pair stays the same, but the pronoun changes because its job changes.
Choose he and I when the pair does an action, and choose he and me when the pair receives an action or follows a preposition.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
he and I /hiː ən aɪ/
The short answer
Choose he and I when the pair performs the action. Choose he and me when someone does something to the pair or when the pair follows a preposition such as with, for, or between.
He and I planned the presentation.
Why it works: The pair performs planned, so it is the subject of the sentence. I is the subject form.
5 more examples
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He and I share an apartment near the station.
The pair is the subject of share. Both people do the action.
Not this:The landlord called
he and meyesterday. What changes: The pair receives the action called, so the object form me is needed. -
He and I will review the budget tonight.
The verb phrase will review has the pair as its subject.
Not this:Please send the budget
to he and me. What changes: The pair follows the preposition to, so me is the object form. -
He and I were late because the bus stopped.
The pair is linked to were. Subject pronouns are used in this position.
Not this:The delay affected
he and me. What changes: Affected takes an object. The delay happened to the pair. -
He and I can answer the client's questions.
The pair can answer, so it is the subject before the verb.
Not this:The client asked
he and meseveral questions. What changes: The client asked the questions to the pair, making the pair the object. -
He and I have known each other since college.
The pair is the subject of have known.
Not this:
Between he and me, the deadline seems too short. What changes: Between is a preposition, so it is followed by object forms.
Read the full guide
First, find the verb. Ask who performs that action. If the answer is the pair, use he and I. If the pair receives the action, or if it comes after a preposition, use he and me.
Find who does the action
Use he and I when the pair does the action. The pair usually comes before the main verb, although a question can change the word order.
He and I organize the weekly meeting.
I organize the weekly meeting. The single-pronoun version confirms the subject form.
Choose the pair: ___ are taking the early train.
Use he and I because the pair is taking the train.
Use object forms after an action
Use he and me when another person or thing does something to the pair. The pair is the object of the verb.
The receptionist greeted he and me at the door.
The receptionist greeted me at the door. Me works after greeted, so he and me works for the pair.
Complete the sentence: The guide showed the museum to ___.
Use he and me because to introduces the people receiving the tour.
Watch for prepositions
Words such as with, for, to, and between are prepositions. A pronoun after one of these words normally uses an object form.
The schedule works for he and me.
The schedule works for me. The preposition for needs me, not I.
Choose the form after with: Jordan travelled with ___.
Use he and me because with is a preposition.
Use the single-pronoun check
To check the grammar, quietly remove he or the other name. Use the form that sounds right in the shorter sentence, then put the full pair back.
The editor invited he and me to the interview.
The editor invited me to the interview. Invited takes an object, so I would not fit.
Check the sentence: My sister and ___ are cooking dinner.
Use I. The shorter sentence is I am cooking dinner.
Keep the order polite and clear
English speakers often place the other person before I or me in a pair. This is a convention of polite phrasing, not the grammar rule that chooses the pronoun form.
He and I will reply by Friday.
The subject form is I because the pair will reply. The order does not change that job.
Choose the object form: The email was sent to he and ___.
Use me. The phrase follows to, so it needs object forms.
Before you go
Remember this
Use he and I for the people doing the action. Use he and me for people who receive the action or follow a preposition. Test I or me alone, then restore the full pair.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "He and I or he and me: which is correct?"
Can I use the single-pronoun check every time?
It is a useful private check for this grammar choice. Remove one person from the pair and see whether I or me fits the shorter sentence. After checking, put both people back in the sentence. The final wording should still name both people clearly.
He and I share an apartment near the station.
Why is me used after a preposition?
Prepositions such as with, for, to, and between are followed by object forms. That is why standard English uses me after those words. The same pattern applies when the pronoun is part of a pair, so a preposition can be a quick clue.
The landlord called he and me yesterday.
Is he and me acceptable in an email?
Yes, when the pair is an object or follows a preposition. For example, it can follow a verb that affects the pair or a word such as to. In a careful email, decide by the pronoun's job in the sentence rather than by how formal the sentence sounds.
He and I will review the budget tonight.
Does the order of the names change the grammar?
No. The grammar depends on whether the pair is a subject or an object. Speakers often place the other person first as a polite convention, but that order does not decide whether the sentence needs I or me. Check the role before you choose the form.
Please send the budget to he and me.
What should I use after a form of be?
In standard everyday English, use the subject form when the pair is linked to a form of be and functions as the subject: He and I are ready. This pattern differs from a verb such as called or invited, where the pair receives the action and needs object forms.
He and I were late because the bus stopped.