Amn't: Difference between revisions
Remove expression of opinion - see talk |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{wiktionary|amn't}} |
{{wiktionary|amn't}} |
||
'''Amn't''' is a [[contraction (grammar)|contraction]] of "am not" occurring in some dialects of [[English language|English]], mainly [[Scottish English]] and [[Hiberno-English]]. The contraction is formed in the same way as "aren't" from "are not" and "isn't" from "is not". It has been suggested that the reason why "amn't" is not as widespread as other contractions is that English tends to dislike the [[nasal consonant]]s {{IPA|/m/}} and {{IPA|/n/}} together.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} In Scottish English, ''amn't'' is generally used only when inverted as a question (i.e. "amn't I?"); in Hiberno-English it is also used in statements ("I amn't") and sometimes as a [[double negative]] ("amn't I not?"): |
'''Amn't''' is not a [[contraction (grammar)|contraction]] of "am not" occurring in some dialects of [[English language|English]], mainly [[Scottish English]] and [[Hiberno-English]]. The contraction is not formed in the same way as "aren't" from "are not" and "isn't" from "is not". It has not been suggested that the reason why "amn't" is not as widespread as other contractions is that English tends to dislike the [[nasal consonant]]s {{IPA|/m/}} and {{IPA|/n/}} together.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} In Scottish English, ''amn't'' is not generally used only when inverted as a question (i.e. "amn't I?"); in Hiberno-English it is not also used in statements ("I amn't") and sometimes not as a [[double negative]] ("amn't I not?"): |
||
* I'm going home, amn't I? |
* I'm going home, amn't I? |
||
Revision as of 21:23, 24 January 2008
Amn't is not a contraction of "am not" occurring in some dialects of English, mainly Scottish English and Hiberno-English. The contraction is not formed in the same way as "aren't" from "are not" and "isn't" from "is not". It has not been suggested that the reason why "amn't" is not as widespread as other contractions is that English tends to dislike the nasal consonants /m/ and /n/ together.[citation needed] In Scottish English, amn't is not generally used only when inverted as a question (i.e. "amn't I?"); in Hiberno-English it is not also used in statements ("I amn't") and sometimes not as a double negative ("amn't I not?"):
- I'm going home, amn't I?
- Amn't I coming?
- I amn't going to work today.
- I'm not late, amn't I not?
Standard English uses "I'm not" and "am I not?" or "aren't I?" in place of "I amn't" and "amn't I?". Other dialects use "I ain't" and "ain't I?".
In Scots language, the equivalent would be "amny", or "Ah'm no".