"aren't I" or "am I not"?

[The Monkey]

I've been hearing and reading "aren't I" a lot.

Like "I'm late, aren't I?", when the correct sentece would be "amn't I". Of course "amn't" sound retarded, so that's out of the window.

"Am I not" seems to be the only correct sentence, but that sounds a bit bureaucratic, and is not used much. "Aren't I" seems to be the most used phrase, when though it's technically incorrect.

Anyone knows how and why it evolved like this?

 

[Azner]

Shouldnt it be "Ain't"

 

[Jintor]

"Are Not I" or "Aren't I" is not grammatically correct, but English a bitch of a language, you berk.

 

[Solaris]

'Am I not'
Ends in a presupposition which is not allowed.

 

[15357]

"I'm late, right?"


Duh.

 

[Baal]

"I'm late, right?"


Duh.

blast!

I am definitely a perpetrator of the "Aren't I"

Is "aren't I" correct in any instance?

"Am I not an idiot?"

"Aren't I an idiot?"

:O

 

[mindless_moder]

you could always do the french "no"
"I am late , no ?"

 

[Baal]

Is that proper? :|

 

[Stigmata]

No, but being French, it's classy

 

[Marinmald]

oh just cuse and get it over with.

 

[Xendance]

Am I not?

is what I would say.

 

[Operational]

I tend to say "Am I not?" as opposed to "Aren't I?".

Here is a question I've had for a while, is "Willn't" an acceptable abbreviation of "Will not"?

 

[pomegranate]

I tend to say "Am I not?" as opposed to "Aren't I?".

Here is a question I've had for a while, is "Willn't" an acceptable abbreviation of "Will not"?

Acceptable in so far as no-one will no what you mean...

 

[Operational]

Acceptable in so far as no-one will no what you mean...

I ment from a "rules of the English language" point of view.
I know no one understands because I've tried it before, I willn't try it again.

 

[pomegranate]

Well as far as I can see it's as sensible a construction as won't. There's no rules for making new words up.

 

[Bad^Hat]

'Am I not'
Ends in a presupposition which is not allowed.

 

[ríomhaire]

I don't think amn't sounds retarded :\

 

[jaimela]

Why not just simplify things and ask a direct question, like "am i late" instead of "i'm late, aren't i"

 

[Qhartb]

'Am I not'
Ends in a presupposition which is not allowed.

No it doesn't. 'not' is an adverb, not a preposition. "Am I not?" is indeed grammatically correct.

 

[tehsolace]

Would you say "Am I not late?" or "Are I not late?"

I would guess the correct way is "Am I not late?", so wouldn't that suggest that "I am late. Am I not?" is correct too?

Therefore, saying "I am late. Aren't I?" is incorrect, because "I am late. Are I not?" doesn't sound right.

 

[Adabiviak]

I think the usage of "aren't" with "I" comes from it's more common use with "you", as in, "Aren't you xxx?" People get familiar with that syntax and just use it with "I". I'm pretty sure it's technically wrong to say, "aren't I" because the subject and verb don't agree, but as was alluded to previously, spoken American English is a little rough around the edges. It's like the legions of people who say (and write), "I would of if I only had a buck" when it should be, "I would have if I only had a buck." Unless people check their grammar, they'll go with whatever sounds right.

 

[Dan]

that's why Canadians say eh:
I'm late eh

 

[Sulkdodds]

Why not just simplify things and ask a direct question, like "am i late" instead of "i'm late, aren't i"

They say different things; the former is a genuine question not leaning to either 'I am late' or 'I am not late' while the latter is a request for confirmation, almost a rhetorical question.