Misconceptions & Reasoning
📋 What it is
Common myths: “never start with because/and”, apostrophes make plurals, and “me” is always wrong.
🗣️ Coach says
Some “rules” you’ve heard aren’t real. You CAN start a sentence with “because” (if it’s complete) or “and” (for effect). Apostrophes never make plurals. And “me” is right as an object (“gave it to me”).
🧠 Memory hook
Not every “rule” is real. Test it: does it actually make the meaning clearer, or is it just a myth?
😂 Giggle
Why did the adverb always follow the verb around?
Because it literally, quickly, and enthusiastically modified everything the verb did!
😲 Whoa!
The “never split an infinitive” rule was borrowed from Latin and doesn’t fit English — “to boldly go” is perfectly fine.
✅ Quick check: “Jo gave the ball to Sam and I.” Is “I” correct here?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
No — it’s an object, so it should be “me” (“to Sam and me”). Test it by dropping “Sam and”: “to I” sounds wrong.
Objects take “me”; the drop-the-other-name test reveals the right pronoun.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Say “She sat next to (I/me).” Drop nothing and trust the test: “next to me” is right. Try it with two names.