I / my / me / mine / myself ?

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If you’re confused by the words I, my, me, mine, and myself, you’re not alone!

In this lesson, I’m going to teach you the quick and easy difference between them.

I and ME

I is the subject – the person who does the action in the sentence.

• I gave John the book.

Me is the object – the person who receives the action in the sentence.

• John gave me the book.
  OR: John gave the book to me. 

MY and MINE

Use my before the word, and use mine after the word:

• Paul is my friend.
• Paul is a friend of mine.
• Those are my glasses.
• Those glasses are mine.

MYSELF

The word myself is used in two cases:

1. As a reflexive pronoun – when “I” is both the subject AND the object
   • I gave myself a haircut.
     (This means I cut MY own hair)
   • I accidentally cut myself with the scissors.
2. For emphasis – when you want to emphasize the “I”
   • I baked this cake myself!
     (I want to emphasize that I made it, and not another person) 
   • I know John was at the party because I saw him there myself.
     (I saw John at the party with my own eyes)
   • Give me the letter – I’ll deliver it myself.
     (I’ll deliver the letter personally)

BY MYSELF

The expression by myself means alone:

• I went out to dinner by myself.

Learn more: YOUR vs. YOU’RE