A friend asked me this question: Although the pronoun "I" always comes with "am",Why is it-in grammar-correct to say "Aren't I" in the question:
"Aren't I tall?"
Help please………….. :?
"Aren't I tall?"
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- Miss. Ladybird
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I am not quite sure what your question is. However the pronoun “I” is not always comes with “am”. It only happens when you use this with to be verb.
Examples:
1. I’m tall aren’t I? - Using “to be verb”.
2. I do know this lady. - Using “to do verb”
3. I know this lady. - Using “regular verb”
3. I am not a lazy person. – Using “to be verb”
Hope this will help.
Examples:
1. I’m tall aren’t I? - Using “to be verb”.
2. I do know this lady. - Using “to do verb”
3. I know this lady. - Using “regular verb”
3. I am not a lazy person. – Using “to be verb”
Hope this will help.
- Miss. Ladybird
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Thank you for your reply.vince90 wrote:I am not quite sure what your question is. However the pronoun “I” is not always comes with “am”. It only happens when you use this with to be verb.
Examples:
1. I’m tall aren’t I? - Using “to be verb”.
Hope this will help.
but my question was: why do we use "are" with the pronoun"I" in the question here. why don't we use "am"? :?
- Joe
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"Aren't I tall?" is normal English.
In questions, am not is often contracted to aren't, for example: I'm late, aren't I?
It seems strange, but it's perfectly acceptable:
http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/c ... gative.htm
The uncontracted "Am I not tall?" is of course correct but extremely formal.
"Amn't I" is also heard in some dialects of English.
In questions, am not is often contracted to aren't, for example: I'm late, aren't I?
It seems strange, but it's perfectly acceptable:
http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/c ... gative.htm
The uncontracted "Am I not tall?" is of course correct but extremely formal.
"Amn't I" is also heard in some dialects of English.
Last edited by Joe on Wed Apr 20, 2005 1:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.