<p>so which one is correct?
Do you say "It is I" or "It is me" when responding a question "Who is it?"</p>
<p>of if it's a boy, do you say "It is he" or "It is him"????</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure that "It is I" is correct, even though it sounds funny. Not certain about He/Him though. I guess if "It is I" is correct it makes sense that "It is he" is also correct. Not 100% though.</p>
<p>It is I is correct, though it sounds awkward. </p>
<p>It is he.</p>
<p>It is they.</p>
<p>It is we.</p>
<p>And to 99% of the people out there it will sound incorrect.</p>
<p>it is he is correct because "he" is a predicate nominitive followed by a linking verb; "him" would not work because it is a direct object</p>
<p>it is I is correct because "me" is also a direct object, and a nominitive form is needed</p>
<p>wow good question. Would of never thought of it. It is I does sound weird. Its good that I know now.</p>
<p>Great explanation rockclimber246! My grandmother used to correct me on that exact error...relentlessly. She was a rather strict German and a former English teacher.</p>
<p>I think "It is I" too. My way of doing it is - Who is it? - It is John not It is him
I am not sure about this but whom is the objective part that would work for me.</p>
<p>PeteSAT: Do you use "It is I" in everyday speech?</p>
<p>It is "It is I' because is is a linking verb and you use that case with linking verbs....</p>
<p>I know that nearly every English teacher will tell you "It is me" is wrong. They'd also say that "it's us" is wrong, but almost no competent native speaker of English would say "it's we." </p>
<p>But if you look at manuals of English usage, you'll find that many consider "it is I" archaic or pedantically over-correct ; some say that it's a choice of formal ("it is I") vs. informal style ("it is me"); some prefer "It is I" only if it's not the end of a sentence, as in "It is I who had the idea." I don't think any defend "it is I" as the only correct usage. </p>
<p>And as far as the grammar justification goes, it's not as simple as you'd think. The verb "to be" sometimes has transitive force:</p>
<p>Here's how I think about it: add something else to the sentence. It is I who should do something sounds much better than It is me who should do something. Whenever I'm in doubt, I expand the sentence.</p>
<p>It is us who do the work.
It is we who do the work.
MM88 - I don't think many competent English speakers would use the first sentence. Those picky English teachers are correct.
Carpe - Your expansion idea is excellent and can prevent many errors in grammar usage.</p>
<p>
[quote]
But if you look at manuals of English usage, you'll find that many consider "it is I" archaic or pedantically over-correct ; some say that it's a choice of formal ("it is I") vs. informal style ("it is me"); some prefer "It is I" only if it's not the end of a sentence, as in "It is I who had the idea." I don't think any defend "it is I" as the only correct usage.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Depends on your definition of correct which comes down to context. For the purposes of people on CC, knowing "it is I" is correct may help them avoid an error that could hurt a test score. And some people assume that what they hear in everyday conversation is often correct. But when you're with your friends, it doesn't matter presumably.</p>
<p>So used in a sentence, it would be "Yes, it is I who invented the telephone" or "It was he who solved Fermat's last theorem."</p>
<p> I thought "it's us" is correct because I've never heard anyone say "it's we". Anyways, "It is I" sounds so british..</p>
<p>
[quote]
So used in a sentence, it would be "Yes, it is I who invented the telephone" or "It was he who solved Fermat's last theorem."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Right: There's less controversy here, esp. since most people aren't tempted to say "me invented the telephone." The OP's question was about a different context, though.</p>
<p>For those who like to wrestle with the dissonance between grammatical rules and usage, which of these do you think is preferable (basically the same construction as above but a direct object in the second clause)?</p>
<p>It was him I saw in the library.
It was he I saw in the library.
It was he whom I saw in the library.</p>
<p>Woe is I! ;)</p>
<p>It was he whom I saw in the library. : )</p>