May I replace me with myself in the sentence:
I had brought suits with me?
- May I replace it?
- If I can, what's the difference between them?
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Your sentence does not make sense, unless you brought the cupboard with you from somewhere else, which seems unlikely.– Michael HarveyMay 3, 2021 at 8:18
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@MichaelHarvey Yes, so I deleted in the cupcoard.– Y. zengMay 3, 2021 at 8:19
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1Brought with me is fine. There is no reason to use myself, although some native speakers over-use it because they think it sounds better.– Kate BuntingMay 3, 2021 at 8:31
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1I would say that 'myself' is always a mistake unless reflexive action is being discussed.– Michael HarveyMay 3, 2021 at 8:34
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1Yes, the subject is I, but the object is suits. You are not doing anything to yourself.– Kate BuntingMay 3, 2021 at 10:07
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1 Answer
No - "me" is correct in your example.
'Myself' is a reflexive pronoun, used for self-reference. Generally, their use is to clarify identity. For example:
I bought the book for myself.
You could just simply say "I bought the book" and let people assume that you bought it to read, and not as a gift to give to someone else. Adding "for myself" adds clarity about who the book is for.
In your example of "I brought the suits with me", adding "with me" does add some clarity but not with respect to identity. If you simply said "I brought the suits", it is clear who brought the suits but arguably it is not clear where you brought them. "With me" is an idiomatic way of saying that they are in your possession.
If in doubt about the use of me/myself, test it with 'you/yourself' as there seems to be far less confusion about this. "Did you bring the suits with you?" is correct.
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I bought the book for myself. I brought the suits with myself. Do you feel they are the same? So, why can't I use myself?– Y. zengMay 3, 2021 at 10:18