0
Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
How can I not? vs How can not I?
I am a native English speaker, but I was stumped when a ESL friend asked me why he can't say " How can not I?" when what he meant was "How can I not?" I know the second one is proper, but I can't explain why. Will someone help me explain why the first is not correct?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Top answer
Hi, I believe the first one is correct but quite old-fashioned and archaic. How can't I and How can I not would be probably used these days. You should explain to him that the English language has evolved throughout the years.
- Hi, I believe the first one is correct but quite old-fashioned and archaic.
- How can't I and How can I not would be probably used these days.
- You should explain to him that the English language has evolved throughout the years.
- The English we speak nowadays is not at all the same as Old English, for example.
- Similarly, Why didn't you go there?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
9 Answers
0
Hi,
I believe the first one is correct but quite old-fashioned and archaic. How can't I and How can I not would be
probably used these days. You should explain to him that the English language has evolved throughout the years.
The English we speak nowadays is not at all the same as Old English, for example.
Similarly,
Why didn't you go there? =
I believe the first one is correct but quite old-fashioned and archaic. How can't I and How can I not would be
probably used these days. You should explain to him that the English language has evolved throughout the years.
The English we speak nowadays is not at all the same as Old English, for example.
Similarly,
Why didn't you go there? =
00
AnonymousWill someone help me explain why the first is not correct?In modern English you invert subject and verb to form a question.
Paul should do this. / Should Paul do this?
If you want to carry the negation through the inversion process, you have to express it as a contraction (n't).
Paul
00
00
RegardsPerhaps it's not a matter of "pure" grammar...I don't know what pure grammar would be. All (descriptive) grammatical rules are based on native speaker judgments of grammaticality. There are bound to be disagreements about that now and then.
I can't speak to the question of archaic English. I haven't read much of it or studied it.
00
Hi,
and the like. However, I once read that forms like these were used in old-fashioned English, and that's why
I
CalifJimI can't speak to the question of archaic English. I haven't read much of it or studied it.I see. Thanks, anyway. Just for the record, I myself don't use why do not you, what did not you, how can not I,
and the like. However, I once read that forms like these were used in old-fashioned English, and that's why
I
00
I'm thinking because it's a shortened version of "How can I not [insert verb]."
00
When we use or ask special questions we use rule for it as<1Question 2.auxiliary verb 3.subject 4.main verb.
for ex; How can I not? i think this true but according the rule which mentioned above---How can I not?---is wrong.cause in this question the rule has been violated
for ex; How can I not? i think this true but according the rule which mentioned above---How can I not?---is wrong.cause in this question the rule has been violated
00
Nara A-vaHow can I not?---is wrong. cause in this question the rule has been violatedHow is the rule violated? " How can I not [like her] ...? " is the natural collocation. On the other hand, " how can not I ....?"
wheth
00
According to grammar rules 'How can I not'is true.i mentioned it above.i wan to write 'how can not I' isnt true according to rules .this can be seen
0
Related Questions