Use of I'm vs. I am

Question

My mother-in-law is teaching an ESL class. She was working on responses to questions such as,

"Are you reading right now?"

"Yes, I am"

"Is he painting?"

"Yes, he is"

These aren't the exact questions, but should give you some idea of the content.

We were wondering why a person cannot respond "Yes, I'm." or "Yes, he's."? I could say "Yes, he's painting over there", or something similar I think, but why is "Yes, I am / Yes he is." accepted as complete sentences, while "Yes I'm / Yes, he's" are not?

Heather

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

This is just one of the little details of the language that you have to learn through experience.  There is no logical reason why you can't say, "I'm.", or "He's.", in this situation (in fact, you can never say, "I'm.", or "He's.", in any situation in English).  That's just the way it is in English.

Mister Micawber · Answer

AnonymousWe were wondering why a person cannot respond "Yes, I'm." or "Yes, he's."?

Because we do not contract stressed syllables:

He's SLEEPing.

Are you sure?

Yes, he IS.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Here's a further comment.

I think a reason we say I'm or He's is that it makes it easier for us to say (ie articulate) the next word in the sentence

eg It's a lot easier for me to say I'm surprised than it is to say I am surprised.

If there is no following word in the sentence, there is not the same need to help myself by saying I'm or he's.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Mister MicawberBecause we do not contract stressed syllables:

I'm not sure I get this...well I know what you mean be stressed syllable (I think), but really - we never contract them?

What about "No, he CAN'T"?

Thanks for your reply

Heather

Mister Micawber · Answer

The stressed syllable [kæn] is not reduced. It is 'not' that is reduced and contracted (often to omission).

Anonymous · Answer

This makes sense, but is so unsatisfying

Heather

Use of I'm vs. I am

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