Agreement in number and person between the S and V

[High on grammar]

[FONT=&quot]Dear English language teacher:
Which one(s) of the following is (are) grammatically correct?[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]A) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]It's me that am responsible for the planning.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]B) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]It’s me that is responsible for……..[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]C) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]It’s I that am…….[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]D) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]It’s I that is……..[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]E) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]It’s I who am…[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]F) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]It’s I who is…..[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]G) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]It’s me who is…..[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]H) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]It’s me who am………[/FONT]




[FONT=&quot]I have found many examples of all the above in print (on Googlebooks)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]But they can’t all be correct.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Thanks [/FONT]

 

[philo2009]

Dear English language teacher:
Which one(s) of the following is (are) grammatically correct?

A) It's me that am responsible for the planning.
B) It’s me that is responsible for……..
C) It’s I that am…….
D) It’s I that is……..
E) It’s I who am…
F) It’s I who is…..
G) It’s me who is…..
H) It’s me who am………




I have found many examples of all the above in print (on Googlebooks)
But they can’t all be correct.

Thanks

E is the most formally correct (with C a close second), while conversationally B would probably be the most commonly heard.

The others are, to a greater or lesser degree, unacceptable as standard English.

If, however, you do not wish to become embroiled in the rather tiresome debate on this issue between conventionalists and modernists, I would suggest you opt for the neutral form

I am the one who/that is responsible...

 

[TheParser]

But they can’t all be correct.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello,


I respectfully suggest that you read all that you can about this and then choose one. If anyone disagrees, just

smile and continue to use the form that you have chosen.

For example, I say "It is I." Almost everyone nowadays says "I is me." But I do not care what everyone does.

Personally, I hope that you choose:

"It is I who am responsible."

"who" agrees with "I." Therefore, "am."

Likewise:

It is he who is responsible.
It is we who are responsible.
It is they who are responsible.


Good luck on your decision.



James


P.S. Sometimes you have to go along with the majority. For example, I would like to say "Everybody should bring his book" instead of "his/her book" or (horrors!) "their book." But if I did, I should upset many people. So I do not. But if I say "It is I who am responsible," most people won't care.