ESL Lesson | B1 | Grammar: when to use "me", "myself" and "I"

Summary

This ESL lesson plan for B1 English students focuses on mastering the correct usage of the pronouns "I," "me," and "myself." This lesson uses a video explanation, interactive exercises, and speaking practice to help students distinguish between these often-confused words in various contexts.

Students will explore the grammatical roles of subject, object, and reflexive/intensive pronouns, enhancing their accuracy and fluency in everyday conversations and writing. The material is designed to provide clear rules, practical application, and opportunities for personal expression.

Access lesson

Activities

A warm-up discussion to engage students with personal questions that encourage the natural use of self-referential pronouns.
Listening comprehension questions based on a video explaining the definitions and roles of "I," "me," and "myself."
A detailed grammar focus section reviewing the rules for subject, object, and reflexive/intensive pronouns with clear examples.
Interactive grammar practice exercises, including fill-in-the-blanks, to reinforce correct usage of "I," "me," and "myself."
A vocabulary matching activity introducing verbs related to self-actions and communication, such as distinguish, reflect, and emphasize.
Further practical fill-in-the-gap exercises for applied grammar practice.
Speaking practice questions designed to prompt students to use the learned grammar and vocabulary in personal reflections and discussions.

00:07 Me, myself, and I.

00:09 You may be tempted to use these words interchangeably

00:13 because they all refer to the same thing,

00:15 but in fact, each one has a specific role in a sentence.

00:19 "I" is a subject pronoun,

00:21 "me" is an object pronoun,

00:24 and "myself" is a reflexive or intensive pronoun.

00:28 So what does that reveal about where each word belongs?

00:31 Let's start with the difference between subject and object.

00:35 Imagine the subject as the actor in a sentence

00:38 and the object as the word that is acted upon.

00:42 "I invited her but she invited me."

00:46 The object can also be the object of a preposition.

00:49 "She danced around me, while he shimmied up to me."

00:54 In some languages, like Latin and Russian,

00:57 most nouns have different forms that distinguish subjects from objects.

01:01 However, in English, that's only true of pronouns.

01:05 But so long as you know how to distinguish subjects from objects,

01:08 you can figure out what belongs where.

01:11 And when you encounter a more complicated sentence,

01:14 say one that involves multiple subjects or objects,

01:17 and you're not sure whether to use "I" or "me,"

01:21 just temporarily eliminate the other person,

01:24 and once again distinguish subject from object.

01:28 Here's another.

01:30 You wouldn't say, "Me heard gossip," but sub in "I" and you're good to go.

01:35 Then what about "myself?"

01:38 This grand character is often substituted for "me" and "I"

01:42 because it seems more impressive.

01:44 "Please tell Jack or myself" may sound elegant,

01:48 but in fact, "me" is the right pronoun here.

01:52 So where should you use "myself"?

01:54 In its function as a reflexive pronoun,

01:57 "myself" only works if it's the object of a sentence

02:00 whose subject is "I."

02:03 "I consider myself the most important pronoun at this year's party."

02:09 "Myself" can also add emphasis as an intensive pronoun.

02:14 "I, myself, have heard others agree."

02:18 The sentence works without it,

02:19 but that extra pronoun gives it oomph.

02:22 To check if "myself" belongs in a sentence,

02:25 simply ensure that there's also an "I" that it's reflecting or intensifying.

02:30 So that's "me," "myself," and "I,"

02:32 ever ready to represent you, yourself, and you.

Vocabulary focus

The vocabulary section introduces key grammar terms and verbs related to self-actions and communication. Key terms include subject pronoun, object pronoun, reflexive pronoun, intensive pronoun, distinguish, reflect, emphasize, interact, and express. Students will learn to accurately use these words in discussions about grammar and personal experiences.

Grammar focus

This lesson concentrates on the correct usage of subject pronouns ("I"), object pronouns ("me"), and reflexive/intensive pronouns ("myself"). Students will learn the specific roles of each pronoun in a sentence, including when to use "I" as the actor, "me" as the receiver of an action or after a preposition, and "myself" for reflection or emphasis.

Grammar: when to use "me", "myself" and "I"

Summary

Activities

Vocabulary focus

Grammar focus

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