# Some one pls explain to me when to use "me" and "I".

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-one-pls-explain-to-me-when-to-use-me-and-i/118910>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 14, 2002, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-one-pls-explain-to-me-when-to-use-me-and-i/118910 "2002-07-14T11:50:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-one-pls-explain-to-me-when-to-use-me-and-i/118910/21 "2002-07-16T08:14:57Z")

</div>

Ok, here’s the X’ structure for “to never split infinitives” (simplified, and quite dependent on how much of my syntax class I remember):

```auto

     I'__
    / \
  Iº _VP___
   | / \_
  to AdvP V'_
       /_\ | \
      never Vº NP
                 | /_\
             split infinitives

```

“never split infinitives” is a verb phrase; “split infinitives” is a verb sub-phrase, and “split” is the head of the verb phrase. “To” is the head of the inflectional subphrase (never mind), whose structure is [Iº VP]. So it’s fine to put the head of the inflectional phrase (“to”) before the verb phrase (“never split infinitives”).

(In fact, I’m having a little difficulty figuring out how to draw a tree for the supposedly more proper “never to split infinitives”, so I won’t bother. Also, drawing syntax trees in this is a pain in the ass.)

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