Can "Aren´t" be correct ?

Question

You are the person I am looking for, aren´t you (are you not)?

I am the person you are looking for, aren´t I (are I not)? Should this not be "am I not" which would make "aren´t I" incorrect?

Yes, exactly. - rac1, Sep 26, 2013

Good question and good discussion. This one and the "If I were" construction are both nice examples of how English can take an interesting twist in the blink of an eye. - Manity, Sep 26, 2013

Ah, I read half of the question.... :/ - chileno, Sep 26, 2013

Probably if the thread tittle would've been "Can "aren't I" be correct"? :) - chileno, Sep 26, 2013

Answer 1

The expression, "aren’t I" is often used in place of am I not, particularly in conversational speech.

Example 1 (incorrect usage): I’m going with you on vacation, aren’t I?

Although the use of this phrase is widespread, it is atrocious English that could be considered equivalent to you is, a phrase which most educated people abhor (although for some reason, these same people have no qualms about saying aren’t I). The correct form of the sentence in Example 1 is as follows:

Example 2 (correct usage): I’m going with you on vacation, am I not?

If you read this sentence aloud, it probably sounds awkward and formal, however, it is correct English. If the phrase, "aren’t I" is converted from a question to a statement,"I aren’t", it becomes obvious that it is indeed grammatically incorrect.

Aren't I" is incorrect because you are not supposed to use the word "are" in the first-person singular (present tense) but rather the word "am."

For example, you DO NOT say "I ARE going to the party," but rather "I AM going to the party." If you say "I ARE going to the party" you are using the word "are" in the first-person singular instead of the word "am" which is incorrect. In the same way, when you say "Aren't I" you are using "are" in the first-person singular when you should be using "am." Thus "Aren't I?" is incorrect.

source: Urban Dictionary

I do not agree Annie - Aren't I exists because Amn't I does not. - ian-hill, Sep 26, 2013

According to Reference.com, "amn't" is a contraction of "am not" occurring in some dialects of English, mainly Scottish English and Hiberno-English. - rac1, Sep 27, 2013

Ian is exactly right. A strict constructionst view of this phrase, or language in general, is to miss that language is about, and to deny the nature of language, which is that language comes first, and attempts at rules second. Ian, thank god, has it. - rogspax, Sep 27, 2013

The question here was not about denying the nature of langauage, Roger. - rac1, Sep 27, 2013

Answer 2

"Aren't I" is correct.

For some unknown reason "Amn't I" did not catch on.

"Am I not" is used for emphasis - as are all other uncontracted contractions.

These contactions are nearly always used in "tag" questions.

Saying they are incorrect when they are part of every day speech is a bit weird.

Even "Ain't" ( used for all persons but only in the present tense) is in the dictionary now.

Exactly. And though I´m a little bit traditional in not caring for ain´t, aren´t is just too common, normal, accepted at all levels of academia, and has been for over 100 years. - rogspax, Sep 26, 2013

Answer 3

Yes, that's correct. It is our "¿No?"

Conversely:

You are not the person I am looking for Are you?

....¿No?

Good and fair answer. Or slightly modified ¨Aren´t you the person I am looking for¨ - rogspax, Sep 26, 2013

Correct. Thank you. - chileno, Sep 26, 2013

In most situations, " , right?" is the English equivalent of ¿No? - DilKen, Jun 20, 2015

Answer 4

Just to quote one perspective:

enter link description here

Summary: No, aren’t I isn’t incorrect. It’s been in use for at least 130 years, the alternatives are all insufficient, and the “logical” arguments against it are fallacious.

So I think it depends on whether you think that people, by choosing as a group how to communicate, determine what is correct language, or whether you believe that grammarians can proscribe common, natural usage.

I think, though, that if you do not contract it, you need "am I not".

Clearly, there is an argument against this point of view, or the view I am linking would not even need to be expressed.

Please read the entire linked argument.

Yes, uncontracted, first person, is am I not. For some reason, since we can´t contract the normal first person (no existe ¨amn´t I) we use the second person for first ¨aren´t I¨ even though we would never say ¨I are not¨ Weird exception. - rogspax, Sep 26, 2013

Answer 5

Hi Julian,

Yes, "aren't you" can be completely correct. And not just in a few rare hypothetical situations. It's pretty common. It is no different (except in being shorter and more convenient) than saying, "are you not...?" ¨no estás...?¨ .

My mom used to say to me, when I was young and frowned at the idea of trying a new type of food. .

"Aren't you even going to try it?" .

Or in exclaiming how good someone is at something. .

A person might say, after watching someone make a goal

¨Well aren´t you a good little athlete¨

.

Todavía no estás listo?

You´re not ready yet? Aren´t you ready yet?

No me vas a acompañar al partido.

Aren´t you going to come to the game with me?

I hope some of those examples help.

Roger

We do beccause it's common, but not grammatically correct. "Are you not" is correct, but "aren't" is saying, "are not you." - rac1, Sep 26, 2013

Sorry, typos....because.. - rac1, Sep 26, 2013

That is not considered grammatically incorrect, only archaic in word order. And in the contraction, it is not archaic. - rogspax, Sep 26, 2013

And it is considered perfectly proper English, even in College English composition classes, unless your professor is 83 (and even then, if she´s a good one) Language is a living tool to be employed, not merely a fossil to be poked at. - rogspax, Sep 26, 2013

Who is "poking?" I believe we are all giving our responses and opinions. - rac1, Sep 26, 2013

Roger, I am not questioning "aren´t you / are you not" They both make good sense to me. What doesn´t is using "aren´t I" for "am I not". The verb here is conjugated for different persons in each occasion - 005faa61, Sep 27, 2013

I understand, and sympathize with the confusion Julian. If you break it down by reductionism, then ¨aren´t I¨ is wrong because it is literally, are not I, when it should be ¨am not I.¨ But that doesn´t exist, so Aren´t I takes its place. - rogspax, Sep 27, 2013

Phrases and verbs are just not always regular. Even native speakers will sometimes disagree. Some people are so about rules vs reality, that they prefer a fake regular lanuage, to a real irregular one. It is an inherent conflict we all have for words. - rogspax, Sep 27, 2013

That construction does exsit. We may not use it here, in the U.S., but it does exist. - rac1, Sep 27, 2013

Answer 6

After reading all of these, then it might be wise to think about this when learning another language and judging natives of that language, by the way they talk or might not talk.

Eh?

;-D

Nothing beats simplicity. - Raja-jani, Sep 26, 2013

That's true. I hope no one here is doing that. At least I don't think anyone is intentionally. - rac1, Sep 26, 2013

Oh, not intentionally, we all look at the other side, without "noticing" our own side... ;-) - chileno, Sep 26, 2013

Answer 7

Bosquederoble said: So I think it depends on whether you think that people, by choosing as a group how to communicate, determine what is correct language, or whether you believe that grammarians can proscribe common, natural usage.

Wow! I love it. Down with grammarians.

Rac1 said:
Although the use of this phrase is widespread, it is atrocious English that could be considered equivalent to you is, a phrase which most educated people abhor (although for some reason, these same people have no qualms about saying aren’t I)

There are many rules of grammar that are commonly broken in English of which this is obviously one. Others are can/may, who/whom and the use of dangling participles. I for one use them all: aren't I, can instead of may, who instead of whom and I leave my participles hanging. Shame on me!!!

I know. I think we all do. :) - rac1, Sep 26, 2013

Answer 8

Do you need one more opinion or vote of approval? Here it is!

"I am the person you are looking for, aren´t I (are I not)?" This is used but is incorrect. The correct form is: "I am the person you are looking for, ain't I?"

You are the person I am looking for, aren´t you (are you not)? This is correct.

Answer 9

I agree with Annie. 'Are' in the incorrect tense for the first person singular. Just because many people use that contraction with I, doesn't make it correct. If I used the same rule with my last sentence, it would read 'don't make it correct', which of course is absolutely incorrect.

Answer 10

I'm answering just because I think it's a very good discussion and I want it to be accessible (on hand?) through 'My Answers' section. Thank you all for your inputs.