Strangely, my ear is mixed on this. When someone calls on the phone and asks for Mr. Whicker or John, I always answer "This is he." But, when called on a roll, I usually answer, "That's me." In both cases, the alternative sounds wrong. I can't say "This is him" nor "That's I". As for "It is I", I never use either; when asked "who's there?" I usually answer with my name.
 
I found it interesting that people were throwing around the word "correct" regarding this issue. It was interesting to think that I might be corrected for answering "This is he" because it has become incorrect to use the nominative for subject complements.
 
John H. Whicker
----- Original Message -----
From: DD Farms
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 2:12 PM
Subject: It is I

DD: I consider, "It's me." I consider, "It is I." If I am the
responder asked outside the door, I opt for "Smee." I consider what
the Lord would say, "It is I, your King." Both sound correct to me.
One has the qualifier tag on and sounds more formal. Back when I was
lectured to on this sort of things, the teacher would just say the
first is colloquial.
Similarly, sort of, the answer to being asked, "Who is out there
making all that racket?" is usually of the type, "It's him again." Is
it a try for the dedication to using Latin grammar in English?

To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list"

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/