Comments on: aren’t I/am I not

By: Aned

Aned — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:43:10 +0000

There is no explanation for using “Aren’t”; just the “Common use” is not enough.

Why use “Aren’t I” when there is already a proper form.

How can anyone explain why “Aren’t I” is correct?

What is the justificacion for its usage?

I don’t believe that just because a group of stubborn writers insisted on making it “formal” and decided to follow an error is enough to stamp it as “Proper English.”

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:49:54 +0000

I don’t think “aren’t I?” is incorrect. As I’m an English student, I’ve seen this structure in many coursebooks (and it’s regarded as grammatically correct).

I agree with other users that “am I not?” is slightly formal and non-standard.

Finally your blog is very useful and interesting. Thanks for taking the time to write your entries.

By: detsouli

detsouli — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:13:29 +0000

It’s a rich topic . In my viewpoint , “aren’t” was created to make social differebces hence dialect communities .When we hear ‘ain’t I” the connotation has a tendency belonging to the poor social rank.

By: someone

someone — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:50:58 +0000

According to “Michael Swan” in the Practical English Usage by Oxford, fully revised edition page 471 grammatical point number 488-1 ” the question tag for I am is aren’t I?”. an the example of the book is ” I’m late, arent’ I?”

By: susan rooney

susan rooney — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:10:21 +0000

Which of the sentences below is correct?

He went to town, didn’t he?

He went to town, did he not?

By: Prashant

Prashant — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:36:32 +0000

Wow! After listening to so many Americans use “aren’t I” in sentences where I thought “am I not” was appropriate, I was beginning to think I was wrong. I’ve got to start trusting my own knowledge more.

By: Prashant

Prashant — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:32:07 +0000

Ha ha! You made a mistake too! You spelled ‘first’ wrong!

By: King V

King V — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:48:48 +0000

James says:
September 30, 2011 at 12:18 am
Just say: “I am going on vacation with you. Right?”

Problem solved.

Well, that what it might sound like, but you’d write it like this:

“I am going on vacation with you, right?”

By: Rachel V.

Rachel V. — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:10:08 +0000

Great suggestion, James!

By: James

James — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:18:19 +0000

Just say: “I am going on vacation with you. Right?”

Problem solved.