Themes give a story meaning by linking the fictional world with our own. A theme is a central message or idea woven into the action of a story. TIM: Dear Tim and Moby, How do I figure out the theme of a story? And why is finding the theme so important anyway? From, Bob A. The chair is labeled 'Moby-Wan Kenobi.' He holds a megaphone to his mouth. He faces two robots.Ī robot, Moby, sits in a director's chair. A boy, Tim, is dressed as Luke Skywalker. A garage is filled with a variety of household props like a toaster and an electric toothbrush. The 'Star Wars' theme music is hummed in the background. Text reads: 'The Mysteries of Life with Tim and Moby'. He moans.Text reads: 'A short while ago, in a garage very, very nearby.'. He lies dazed on the ground, hearing a cuckoo clock. Text reads: Crusher is serving to Moby and me.Ĭrusher serves. The sentence changes to read: Crusher is serving to me. TIM: You wouldn't say 'Crusher is serving to I.' The sentence changes to read: Crusher is serving to I/me. Text reads: Crusher is serving to Moby and I/me. TIM: For a shortcut, just drop the other noun. A circle appears around the word 'us.' The word 'me' is highlighted. Crusher is the one who's serving, and he's serving to us. TIM: It's tempting to pick 'I' when you're not quite sure. Tim and Moby prepare to play tennis with Crusher and Bruiser. The sentence changes to: I play tennis every Tuesday. TIM: Now it's a simple sentence, so it's easy. The sentence changes to: me/I play tennis every Tuesday. Text reads: Moby, Bruiser, Crusher, and me/I play tennis every Tuesday. Just drop the other nouns in the sentence. We play.Ī circle appears around the word 'we' on the chart. TIM: There are four of us now, but we're all performing the action. We need to figure out if the missing word is a subject or object.Ī chart reminds them that 'I' is a singular subject, 'me' is a singular object, 'we' is a plural subject, and 'us' is a plural object. You might forget who's doing what to whom. Things can get confusing when more people want to play. Crusher and Bruiser are standing on the other side of the tennis net. In the image, Moby now holds the tennis trophy. Moby reaches in and bumps the word 'can't' from the sentence. TIM: It's happening to me, or in this case not happening. In this sentence, Moby's doing the action. That is, when you receive the verb's action. TIM: Use 'me' when you're the object in a sentence. In this sentence, 'win' is the action, and 'I' am the one doing it. TIM: In other words, when you are performing the action. 'I' only works as the subject in a sentence.Īn image shows Tim winning a tennis trophy. TIM: You think it sounds fine? All right, let's put it another way. A buzzer sounds, and a red X appears over each pair of incorrect sentences. Text over Cassie and Rita reads: Us will see about that. Text over Tim and Moby reads: Me will win. Side by side images show Moby and Tim on the left and Cassie and Rita on the right. You'd never say 'Me will win' or 'Moby can't beat I.' It just sounds really weird. TIM: In simple sentences, it's easy to hear which pronoun to use. 'We' and 'us' are the plural forms.Ī chart of first-person pronouns shows 'I' and 'me' as singular forms and 'we' and 'us' as plural forms. Moby looks uneasy.Ĭassie and Rita are still seated on the bench. They always refer to the person who's speaking or writing. TIM: 'I' and 'me' are a special type called 1st person pronouns. The sentence changes to: They love tennis. TIM: We can substitute them for words we've just used.Ī sentence reads: Tim and Moby love tennis. More pronouns join 'I' and 'me': you, us, it, we, they, them, and our. The words 'I' and 'me' appear over a backdrop that reads: pronouns.

TIM: Anyway, 'I' and 'me' are both pronouns. Moby examines the letter as Tim continues. Tim points to himself as he says the word 'me.' Well, Jaime, I'm really glad you asked me. Can you guys help I/me out? Thanks, Jaime. TIM: Dear Tim and Moby, sometimes I can't tell if I should use 'I' or 'me' in a sentence. Tim picks up the crumpled paper and flattens it out. Moby is loading more balls into the machine. Moby stands next to the machine that releases the balls. A crumpled wad of paper lands near him as well. Twenty tennis balls pummel Tim at once, preventing him from serving. Cassie and Rita are sitting on a bench, watching them play. Text reads: The Mysteries of Life with Tim and Moby

Pronouns tim and moby