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Intelligent Freak Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Aren't I?
It sounds odd to me but some people are using it like "I am pretty, aren't I?"
Is it now acceptable?
Ciao,
IF [A]
Is it now acceptable?
Ciao,
IF [A]
Top answer
In all but the most formal situations. Here is some online commentary: The technically ungrammatical usage of "aren't" in questions where "I" is the subject can be considered a "forced" mistake, because there is no good grammatically correct alternative. There is no contraction for "am not;" we don't say "Amn't I going ...
- In all but the most formal situations.
- Here is some online commentary: The technically ungrammatical usage of "aren't" in questions where "I" is the subject can be considered a "forced" mistake, because there is no good grammatically correct alternative.
- There is no contraction for "am not;" we don't say "Amn't I going ...
- ," sounds so formal that it is not practical in most situations.
- Consequently, even though "aren't I" is technically ungrammatical, and can sound a bit jarring to the ear, it is considered correct in normal conversational speech.
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17 Answers
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In all but the most formal situations. Here is some online commentary:
The technically ungrammatical usage of "aren't" in questions where "I" is the subject can be considered a "forced" mistake, because there is no good grammatically correct alternative. There is no contraction for "am not;" we don't say "Amn't I going ... ?," and the uncontracted form, "Am I not going with you?,
The technically ungrammatical usage of "aren't" in questions where "I" is the subject can be considered a "forced" mistake, because there is no good grammatically correct alternative. There is no contraction for "am not;" we don't say "Amn't I going ... ?," and the uncontracted form, "Am I not going with you?,
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Still substandard-- and gauche besides. An excerpt from the Am Heritage Dict:
'...[C]riticism of ain't by usage commentators and teachers has not subsided, and the use of ain't is often regarded as a sign of ignorance. •But despite all the attempts to ban it, ain't continues to enjoy extensive use in speech. Even educated and upper-class speakers see no substitute
'...[C]riticism of ain't by usage commentators and teachers has not subsided, and the use of ain't is often regarded as a sign of ignorance. •But despite all the attempts to ban it, ain't continues to enjoy extensive use in speech. Even educated and upper-class speakers see no substitute
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Intelligent FreakIt sounds odd to me but some people are using it like "I am pretty, aren't I?" (aren't I can only be used in a question. You cannot say "I aren't pretty."
Ciao,
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Hello to all of you! I am an English teacher, and right now I am teaching all forms of verb "to be" to my students, all I want to know if "aren't I" is the only and correct form in the first person in interrogative, in present simple tense, if somebody has a certain correct answer, please mail me as soon as you can to this e-mail: (Email removed)
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Hello Anon
Please read what has previously been posted in this thread.
In a nutshell, the contraction "aren't I" is standardly used in everyday spoken English.
Note also that "aren't I" is a negative interrogative, not just an interrogative!
Although the interrogative "am I" is quite common in everyday English, the negative interrogative
Please read what has previously been posted in this thread.
In a nutshell, the contraction "aren't I" is standardly used in everyday spoken English.
Note also that "aren't I" is a negative interrogative, not just an interrogative!
Although the interrogative "am I" is quite common in everyday English, the negative interrogative
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The information provided about this topic is interesting, because it contradicts all of the research I've completed concerning use of the phrase "aren't I."
In all other sources of correct grammar, both written AND spoken, one learns that "aren't I" is considered "atrocious English" (quote from GrammarErrors.com).
Thank you.
In all other sources of correct grammar, both written AND spoken, one learns that "aren't I" is considered "atrocious English" (quote from GrammarErrors.com).
Thank you.
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AnonymousIn all other sources of correct grammar, both written AND spoken, one learns that "aren't I" is considered "atrocious English" (quote from GrammarErrors.com).Well, all these other sources are wrong.
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Anonymous"aren't I" is considered "atrocious English" (quote from GrammarErrors.com).Anyone can have an opinion. Read the comments that people made on this pronouncement. Very many of them thought that calling "aren't I?" atrocious English was just plain stupid. Just because you find an opinion on the internet doesn't mean it's a very helpful one, and it d
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Besides, the pronunciation (though not the spelling) of 'aren't I?' are not even as illogical as some people appear to think. A change of vowel appears in the contracted negatives of several auxiliaries - shall/shan't, can/can't, do don't, will won't, am/aren't.
We never say 'are I not' in full. The only odd thing about 'aren't' is that it's used only in the interrogative; we
We never say 'are I not' in full. The only odd thing about 'aren't' is that it's used only in the interrogative; we
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