Is This Sentence with the Word 'Us' Grammatical?

The question of whether a sentence with the word 'us' is grammatically correct often arises when using a sentence structure involving both a subject and an additional party. The sentence in question, "Our friends and us have donated money to charity," can be analyzed carefully to determine its grammatical accuracy and the nuances of its usage. This article explores the grammatical subtleties and offers examples to illustrate the correct form.

Understanding the Grammar of 'Us'

Firstly, it is important to understand that 'us' is an object pronoun, while 'we' is a subject pronoun. In a sentence like "Our friends and us have donated money to charity," 'us' is being used incorrectly as a subject. Grammatically correct would be to use 'we,' the subject pronoun. This is because the clause "Our friends and we" is the subject of the sentence.

Why Adding 'Our Friends' Does Not Change the Grammar

Sometimes, the addition of "our friends" causes confusion. Despite the addition, the pronoun 'us' still cannot serve as the subject in this sentence. The simple rule is: if a pronoun is the subject of a sentence, use the subject form; if it is the object, use the object form. Hence, "Our friends have donated money to charity, and we have donated too," or "Our friends and we have donated money to charity" is the proper way to write it.

Alternative Structures for Clarity

While grammatically correct, using "Our friends and we have donated money to charity" can sometimes sound awkward. Therefore, alternative structures can be employed to either enhance clarity or maintain a more natural flow:

Our friends have donated money to charity, and so have we.

Our friends and we have donated money to charity.

We, along with our friends, have donated money to charity.

Additional Tests for Grammatical Correctness

Several tests can confirm the grammatical correctness of a sentence. For instance, try rephrasing the first part of the sentence to see if it sounds right:

Us have donated money to charity. (Clearly incorrect.)

We and our friends have donated money to charity. (Clearly correct.)

My friends and me have donated money to charity. (Me have donated... clearly incorrect, thus 'we' is correct.)

My friends and I have donated money to charity. (I have donated... clearly correct, hence 'we' is correct here as well.)

The key takeaway is that the form 'we' should be used in the subject position when referring to yourself and your friends. "Our friends and we have" or "We and our friends have" are correct.

Conclusion

Understanding the distinction between 'subject' and 'object' pronouns can significantly improve sentence structure and clarity. Whether you are writing formally or informally, it is crucial to ensure the grammatical correctness of your sentences to communicate your message effectively. In cases where you include others (like 'our friends'), always refer to the subject using the subject pronoun.

Keywords

grammatical usage, subject pronoun, object pronoun, sentence structure