Grammatically speaking . . .

System

When using contractions, we say "aren't you?" for "are you not." We say "isn't he?" for "is he not?" So why isn't it (is it not?) "am't I?" for "am I not?" Why do we say "aren't I?"

I'm (I am) right about this, am't I?

ray a

Maybe you are and maybe you ain't.

ritaanz

Sam, how do you pronounce am't I? Tis a tongue twister. Ya'll be better off saying just one word, "Right?" and be done w/it

HRinNH

[u]http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Aren't#Contraction[/u]

[b]Contraction[/b]
aren't [i]colloquial in all senses[/i]

[b]Are not.[/b]
Am not (used only in the question aren't I? = am I not?).

So you're correct!

LarryC

This discussion makes ME wonder why black olives come in cans and green olives come in jars. Why can't black olives come in jars for easier keeping after they're opened? Am I the only one wondering this or am't I?

POPEYE

I think it has something to do with whether they have pits or are pitless.

lnelson

No because pimento olives are pitted and in jars too.

I think it is so the black olives are not exposed to light.

Don D

Some people will come up with anything when they're bored. What do you usually do at 7:40 PM?

Will somebody please tell the lady from AZ that ya'll is y'all.

System

ME bored? I was sleeping at 1:56 this morning.

My post was generated as a result of a conversation with a grammatically correct person who said "aren't I?" I never say that. And I never say 'irregardless.'

ray a

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 11-03-04 AT 06:13AM (CST)[/font][br][br]Irregardless that people often say 'irregardless' when they mean regardless, irregardless is not a word. Even I know that. Aren't I smart?

And Don, Sam just needed a break from polishing all those shoes she owns.

System

We concluded that it's "Am't I smart?" And you just had to bring up the shoe thing, didn't you!

HRinNH

Don't worry Sam, it's hard for them to understand a woman's ability to walk in heels and look so good doing it ) Am't I right?

SandiF

>[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON
>11-03-04 AT 06:13 AM (CST)[/font]
>
>Irregardless that people often say
>'irregardless' when they mean regardless,
>irregardless is not a word. Even I know that.
>Aren't I smart?
>
>And Don, Sam just needed a break from polishing
>all those shoes she owns.


I agree; unfortunately,it is in the new dictionaries.

Whatever

So is an oil truck flammable or inflammable. T'aint sure.

LarryC

Depends on how hard you hit it.

Don D

And whether it's empty or not, and whether there is anyone left alive to have heard the impact.

But, back to the subject. Who would need to ask Aren't I? If you ARE, you would KNOW and would not have to ask. Id'n that right? And if you were or wuz to ask, shouldn't you ask AM I instead of aren't I? e.g. "Am I supposed to meet you in room 206 at 8:00 p.m.?" Rather than "Aren't I ...?"

I have a file of Ray's Bloopers and he has used irregardless no less than three times in Forum conversations.

ray a

And all in one post.