I'm wondering what classes of verbs the contracted negation -n't can attach to. If the answer is auxiliary, is it really more specific than that? Any examples?
Edit: Actually i have another question as well:
How can one determine that a word is used both as noun and verb?
You are vague.I'm wondering what classes of verbs the contracted negation -n't can attach to. If the answer is auxiliary, is it really more specific than that? Any examples?![]()
By context.Actually i have another question as well:
How can one determine that a word is used both as noun and verb?
All the best!![]()
Last edited by Jason72; 16-May-2007 at 19:08.
hmm, well -n't attaches to certain verbforms:
Correct: "We aren't leaving." "Didn't they leave yesterday?"
While not to others:
"We leftn't until six." "Can he haven't checked his e-mail today?"
(examples from a book)
So I'm trying to formulate a generalisation of what class of verbs it does attach to.
WORDS (negating a verb) CONTRACTION
is not - isn't
are not - aren't
was not - wasn't
were not - weren't
have not - haven't
has not - hasn't
had not - hadn't
will not - won't
would not - wouldn't
do not - don't
does not - doesn't
did not - didn't
cannot - can't
could not - couldn't
should not - shouldn't
might not - mightn't
must not - mustn't
You can say some auxiliary and modal verbs...
There's no a certain group of them.
Will this do?
it's a good startdoes plenty for me, don't know about the exam teachers tho