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 #2 (permalink) Sat Aug 26, 2006 20:27 pm Am I supposed not…? vs. Am I not supposed…? |
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Hi Tamara
I'd say you've got a pretty good grasp of the difference. :D
"Am I not supposed to have Ads?"
This means you think you are supposed to have Ads (whatever that is), but apparently you unexpectedly don't have Ads and you are now questioning that fact. So, yes, this may well be a bit more "crankily asked" than the second sentence. ;)
"Am I supposed to not take part in the meeting?" (NOTE: My preference would be to put the word not after the word to.)
You are asking a more straightforward (neutral) question here.
Amy
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Yankee
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| #3 (permalink) Sat Aug 26, 2006 23:12 pm Am I supposed not…? vs. Am I not supposed…? |
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Thank you, Amy.
Especially for that:
| Quote: |
| NOTE: My preference would be to put the word not after the word to. |
Tamara
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Tamara
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| #4 (permalink) Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:23 am Bonus question |
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Hi Tamara
By the way, I'd also say there would be a difference in "degree of crankiness" depending on whether the speaker starts off with a contraction or not. :shiock: For me, using the contraction makes it sound more neutral because it would be the more standard format in spoken English:
"Aren't I supposed to have Ads?"
Amy
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
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Posts: 8325
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| #5 (permalink) Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:30 am Bonus question |
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| Yankee wrote: |
...it would be the more standard format in spoken English:
"Aren't I supposed to have Ads?" |
Hi Amy,
I know that amn't sounds awkward, but I can't still get used to saying (or writing) Aren't I....
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It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara
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Posts: 1577
Location: UK
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| #6 (permalink) Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:47 am Bonus question |
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| Tamara wrote: |
| Yankee wrote: |
...it would be the more standard format in spoken English:
"Aren't I supposed to have Ads?" |
Hi Amy,
I know that amn't sounds awkward, but I can't still get used to saying (or to writing) Aren't I.... |
:shock:
Amn't doesn't sound awkward, it only sounds wrong.
But I'm sure the awkwardness of trying to say something as unpronounceable as amn't is exactly the reason the use of aren't in such sentences began.
Saying "aren't I ?" is absolutely standard. 1000% correct for this negative question. :D
Amy
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8325
Location: USA
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| #7 (permalink) Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:55 am Bonus question |
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| Yankee wrote: |
| ...get used to saying (or to writing) Aren't I.... |
Thanks, Amy.
This time I was lucky enough to have corrected myself by myself in a right way. Before :) ;)
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| Saying "aren't I ?" is absolutely standard. |
Yes.
This is just one thing from what I seem to be unable to learn in English.
Sometimes that happens, not rarely. :)
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Tamara
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Location: UK
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| Subject-verb agreement | meanings of "in my way" and "in the way" |
