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Just encountered the sentence:
Do you wanna grab a bite sometimes. You know, just you and I.
I've noticed that my understanding of subject and object nouns is incomplete because I'd normally say
just you and me
Could anyone please explain to me why 'I' is used and not 'me'?
The key is whether "you and I/me" is the subject or the object of the verb. Here, we are going to "grab a bite", so "you and I" is appropriate. We could rewrite the sentence as:
Let's you and I grab a bite to eat.
On the other hand, if "we" are the object of the sentence, use "you and me".
She gave the money to you and me (to buy a house).
This cake was made for you and me.
Could you go get some lunch for you and me?
However, before you get too excited, and think you understand it completely ... unfortunately many English speakers don't know or don't care about this grammar, and instead use whatever sounds best:
Let's go for a walk, just you and me alone.
I think, you and me, we can build it together.
Haha, I think "You and I" are the subjects of an implied sentence or clause, "You and I grab a bite", or (Do you want) "you and I to grab a bite". But it's gonna be fun to hear other opinions...
My wife (Chinese) is learning English, and these cases and tenses make her crazy!
Ask: "Who is going?"
Answer: "Just you are going and just I am going?"
Shorten the answer: "Just you and I are going."
Shorten the answer some more: "Just you and I."
