Amn't...

[Cozzer]

Courtesy of my Irish upbringing, I tend to still use "amn't" in conversation (as opposed to "I'm not", in case you're confused)

It seems to amuse people....but why?
Can't, won't, aren't, etc., are used all the time, so why not amn't?!

 

[Steliz]

It's not a contraction of 'I'm not' as the 'I' is missing. If you said 'I amn't' it would be more correct but it still sounds like you didn't bother too much with school.

 

[Cozzer]

It's not a contraction of 'I'm not' as the 'I' is missing. If you said 'I amn't' it would be more correct but it still sounds like you didn't bother too much with school.

Jeez...
Well, yes!
I wouldn't just say "Amn't", would I?!

Let me re-word my post, just for you...
Courtesy of my Irish upbringing, I tend to still use "I amn't" in conversation (as opposed to "I'm not", in case you're confused)

OK now?

 

[Gordon Tarling]

Makes sense to me, with my Scottish upbringing.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

In my little corner of the world it's "I aren't". With at least three "r"s in it.

 

[Cozzer]

In my little corner of the world it's "I aren't". With at least three "r"s in it.

Woohoo!
Steliz is going to have a field day with you!

 

[niall Y]

On these Islands we are a group of people divided by the same language. i took me years to realize that the Irish names of Shamus and Sean were just their English equivalents of James and John, spoken with a strong Irish accent. You can even get to Eamon from Edmund if you tune your ear correctly.

 

[niall Y]

I remember as kids in London, that we were encouraged not to use the equivalent "ain't", because - " Ain't, ain't, in the dictionary, ain't, ain't"

 

[John Brown]

In my little corner of the world it's "I aren't". With at least three "r"s in it.

Thing that tickles me about some of my Cornish friends is their use of "he" and "him" for inanimate objects. Maybe "she" and "her" get a look in sometimes, but I've never heard it.

 

[SammyQ]

Cozzer? Am't you the quare one? Eddymickatin' the non-Celts. Keep 'er lit Kid!

P.S. I'm from near the north coast of 'Norn Iron' and the Missus was educated in "Nort Tipp" (Co. Tipperary)...I have to say, there were some hilarious crossed meanings early in our relationship.

 

[Grandad455]

Bob Monkhouse to Denis (Goodwin), Ain't paint quaint, Denis to Bob, you should not use ain't, you should say isn't. Bob to Denis, Isn't pisn't quisn't. Nuff said.

 

[Tris]

'It bain't' was a common one growing up in Herefordshire, but haven't heard it anywhere else. 'End ut wick' was payday

 

[Cozzer]

Cozzer? Am't you the quare one? Eddymickatin' the non-Celts. Keep 'er lit Kid!

P.S. I'm from near the north coast of 'Norn Iron' and the Missus was educated in "Nort Tipp" (Co. Tipperary)...I have to say, there were some hilarious crossed meanings early in our relationship.

Dun Laoghaire in my case.
Thence to Belfast, and the RBAI.

It's thanks to Inst that I am who I am today.

A complete nonentity.

 

[Cozzer]

On these Islands we are a group of people divided by the same language. i took me years to realize that the Irish names of Shamus and Sean were just their English equivalents of James and John, spoken with a strong Irish accent. You can even get to Eamon from Edmund if you tune your ear correctly.

Like "Shamus Android"

 

[Rex deWolf]

On these Islands we are a group of people divided by the same language. i took me years to realize that the Irish names of Shamus and Sean were just their English equivalents of James and John, spoken with a strong Irish accent. You can even get to Eamon from Edmund if you tune your ear correctly.

It's Seamus actually Niall, and there should be a fada over the 'a' in both if you have a Celtic keyboard . Good luck from Seamus

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Alt 0225 on the numeric keyboard will give á.

 

[DeBangis]

Uhmm! I can see different dilects in English language. Some statements/expressions I understand; and some I don't.

And many a times I prefer speaking/writing without contraction (which is formal).

I like this forum, and other UK/US forums I joined because one of the essence is for me to learn/improve on the tongue from its native speakers.

Well, going out, have CA tomorrow.

 

[Rex deWolf]

Alt 0225 on the numeric keyboard will give á.

Thanks for that Phil, I'll try to remember it

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Google alt codes and copy a sheet off. I did it primarily for °, ², ³ etc.

 

[Stanleymonkey]

Courtesy of my Irish upbringing, I tend to still use "amn't" in conversation (as opposed to "I'm not", in case you're confused)

It seems to amuse people....but why?
Can't, won't, aren't, etc., are used all the time, so why not amn't?!

I don't know - but there are large sections of English grammar and spelling that seem to depend on who got to make up those rules. Printers, dictionary writers even monks copying it out by hand get blamed for lots of the weirdness of the English language.

It's possible there is an 'approved list' of contractions to be spoken in perfect Queen's English and someone decided I'm not is the correct way, so that's how we learned it from that point onwards.