aint...

Volcano1985 · #1 28-Jul-2006, 18:33

What does "aint" mean ?

Vlad_the_Inhaler · #2 28-Jul-2006, 18:47

Colloquial, for (to be) not
I ain't = I'm not
he ain't = he's not or he isn't
she ain't = she's not or she isn't
it ain't = it's not or it isn't
we ain't = we're not or we aren't
you ain't = you're not or you aren't
they ain't = they're not or they aren't

Volcano1985 · #3 28-Jul-2006, 20:46

it is just used in Present Tense ?

Vlad_the_Inhaler · #4 28-Jul-2006, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volcano1985

it is just used in Present Tense ?

Can be used for the future as a negative of 'going to', although we would need to replace going to with its colloquial version, gonna.

I ain't gonna come here again = I'm not going to come here again

DavyBCN · #5 28-Jul-2006, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad_the_Inhaler

Can be used for the future as a negative of 'going to', although we would need to replace going to with its colloquial version, gonna.
I ain't gonna come here again = I'm not going to come here again

As a BE speaker I don't use ain't much, and I agree with Vlad's comment on the future, but can't we also say "I ain't coming here again" to say the same thing?

Avalon · #6 28-Jul-2006, 21:16

You can also use it to replace HAVE/HAS ..I ain´t got no money ,but it´s very substandard and shouldn´t be overused! I haven´t got any money is the "right way" ...

Fazzu · #7 29-Jul-2006, 03:12

According to my british grammar book, it says we British speakers shouldn't use 'aint'.Are you telling that you use 'ain't' at certain circumstances,DavyBCN?

Avalon · #8 29-Jul-2006, 04:00

I ain´t British but I learnt about ain´t in London!

DavyBCN · #9 29-Jul-2006, 07:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fazzu

According to my british grammar book, it says we British speakers shouldn't use 'aint'.Are you telling that you use 'ain't' at certain circumstances,DavyBCN?

I can only think of one circumstance I use it - "Ain't that a shame!" - which I use with very close friends when I want to be very sarcastic but in a friendly way.

. Otherwise I really dislike it.