modifying personal pronouns

[Taka]

I know that modifying personal pronouns by adjectivals is usually not possible in English (the rare cases of relative pronouns not included here).

But then, how do you modify them??

[Tdol]

It's definitely mine.

[Taka]

Originally Posted by tdol

It's definitely mine.

I think things are less clearcut.

(ex. It definitely is mine./ Yes, it definitely is.)

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tdol, isn't an expression like "real you" possible? As far as I'm concerned, I've heard it some times.

[Tdol]

It's possible to use the sentence in different ways, but if you use the word order I did, then I would say that the adverb is modifying the pronoun.

The 'real me' does exist. Here, I suppose, 'me' would be a noun.

[Taka]

Originally Posted by tdol

The 'real me' does exist. Here, I suppose, 'me' would be a noun.

Sorry, my memory must be faulty.

Anyway, why is "real me" OK whereas "real you" is not??

[Tdol]

Real + me/you/him/her, etc are all fine.

[Taka]

Originally Posted by tdol

Real + me/you/him/her, etc are all fine.

I see. Glad my memory was not faulty.

Are there any other adjectives that can modify personal pronouns?

[Tdol]

Many could do it- imagine I've lost a lot of weight; I could say 'the fat me would have eaten twice as much'. 'Real' is probably the most common, but any adjective that shows a contrast could be used. However, I think this is probably more likely to be used with the first and second person. For instance, I could say that the 'drunk me' is an unpleasant person, but 'the drunk him' doesn't sound right.

[Taka]

Originally Posted by tdol

Many could do it- imagine I've lost a lot of weight; I could say 'the fat me would have eaten twice as much'. 'Real' is probably the most common, but any adjective that shows a contrast could be used. However, I think this is probably more likely to be used with the first and second person. For instance, I could say that the 'drunk me' is an unpleasant person, but 'the drunk him' doesn't sound right.

Hmm...interesting.

What about adjective phrases like "prep+noun"? Is it possible to modify "me" by, say, "in Japan" (i.e me in Japan)? I know basically personal pronouns cannot be modified by "prep+noun", but I think I've seen such an expression as "me in Japan" somewhere.

[Tdol]

In London, I'm very different from the me in Japan.

That works, but I wouldn't use it in formal writing.