This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on February 14, 2007). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.
Okay, so this is going up a bit late in the day, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. We took the pictures before heading out the door to school this morning, this is just when I got a chance to get them uploaded.
Hope everyone’s V-Day (or anti-V-Day, depending on how you look at this particular holiday) was a good one!
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!
Love to you both
Dad
Oh, by the bye, before Mom sees it, the caption on the photo should say, “Prairie and I on Valentine’s Day.”
Gah. I really can’t keep this straight — according to the ‘me/I’ rule I generally go by, it would be ‘me’, because if you took out ‘and Prairie’, it should be ‘Me on Valentine’s Day,’ not ‘I on Valentine’s Day.’ That’s not right in this case?
(Glad you like the pic, though!)
Out of context, there really isn’t a correct way to say it. It is entirely dependent on context: “Michael and I took a picture on Valentine’s Day” (used as a subject) or “This is a picture of Michael and me on Valentine’s day” (used as a object). I’m inclined to agree with Michael that it sounds better to me the way he has it, because I’d be more likely to use the second sentence.
Unfortunately, the English Language does not care how things sound or for common usage. For example technically, if I answer the phone, and someone says “Is John there?”, the correct response is, “It is I.”, even though the inverse, “I is it.” sounds really gnarly. So, it would be, “I, on Valentine’s Day.”, as subject, not object, as it is a shortened form of “[It is}I, on Valentine’s Day.”
As I expected, Berta commented on this last night. In some sense, this is her problem, not yours. I merely pointed out I knew she would comment.
And we wonder why people trying to learn English find it so hard.
Yesterday was Emily and Kevin’s wedding anniversary, and today Berta retires again!!!
Love to you both
Dad
Actually, this is a case when the common usage has altered the rule, or at least made it acceptable to bend the rule. From the 2003 edition of the Easy Writer handbook for writers (one of the recommended handbooks at NSCC): “Many Americans routinely use the objective case for a subject compliments, especially in conversation: Who’s there? It’s me. If the subjective case for the subject compliment sounds stilted or awkward (It’s I), try rewriting the sentence using the pronoun as the subject (I’m here).”
While it may have been more formal for Michael to use the subjective form in titling his picture,I’d argue that since both photography and blogging are creative endeavors, it’s appropriate for him to choose the objective pronoun in his title. One of the nice things about language is that it’s constantly evolving, and writers should be allowed creative leeway. As I always tell my students, learn the basic rules, then break them to develop your own voice. Formality is important when writing a formal essay, but after reading a batch of 35 formal essays, I’m always ready to turn to something that has a bit more personality. One of the joys of English is writers who know when to abandon rules. Sure, Michael could choose to write in a textbook-like style of perfection, following all the rules, but I’m a lot less likely to pick up a textbook when I’m looking for enjoyable reading. I prefer a little more personality.
P.S. I also stand by my original assessment. Given that he’s using a phrase and not a complete clause to title the picture, it’s impossible to tell whether the pronoun in question is a subject, a subject compliment, or an object. It would still depend on context, and for that there would need to be a verb. If we add the latest bit of the argument into the equation, we only add a new sentence to the puzzle: “It’s Prairie and I on Valentine’s Day.” The other possibilities are still there: “It’s a picture of Prairie and me on Valentine’s Day”, or “Prairie and I took a picture on Valentine’s Day.”
Fascinating. We may be watching language evolve as we speak.