when should I do "ain't"

[EducadorZero]

Please, people, I don't know what is the right case that I should use
"ain't". Actualy, what is the meaning of it?
Thank you everyone!

 

[EducadorZero]

I'm not sure! sorry

 

[e2e4]

From my dictionary

Ain't is a short form of either am not, is not, are not, has not, or have not.

 

[Barb_D]

For English learners, the rule about when to use "ain't" is "never."

It's considered non-standard by most current dialects in English and there is never a time you cannot use a form of "am not" or "is not" (etc.) that is considered standard.

Having said that, native speakers do use it frequently, some because this non-standard use is common in their dialect and others because they are making a deliberate choice to use a non-standard for for some reason, such as for comic effect, to show stubbornness, or to feign ignorance about a subject.

When you have mastered English to such a degree that you can make the deliberate choice to use it, then you can make your decisions as you go. Is this an audience who will understand my use of it, or will they think I just don't "know better."

I use it in speech from time to time, but never in writing unless it's in a joking way in an e-mail to a friend. If I tried to use it as a proper substitution for "is not" in a piece of business writing, they would wonder why they hired me.

 

[e2e4]

Now, I think, we all learners are frustrated with your "never" Barb.

Ain't I gonna listen to you, am I?;-)

I'll tell you what!,I'll ain't listened to you by the year 2012. Then I'll see what to do with the pile of hasnotisnotamnothavenothasnot compresed in a form called "ain't".

 

[bhaisahab]

Now, I think, we all learners are frustrated with your "never" Barb.

Ain't I gonna listen to you, am I?;-)

I'll tell you what!,I'll ain't listened to you by the year 2012. Then I'll see what to do with the pile of hasnotisnotamnothavenothasnot compresed in a form called "ain't".

You had better let me know whom of native English speakers use it. I mean, from where they could be.

Amongst other things, you have misused "ain't".

 

[e2e4]

I'll ain't listened to you by the year 2012.

I will have not listened to you by the year 2012.

Let me know what could be wrong here.

Thanks

 

[Barb_D]

I thought you were being facetious when you misused it so badly.

Ain't is for is not, are not, am not. It's not for "have not."

You've proven my point beautifully.

Among other reasons English learners should not use it is because words that are not part of your organically grown vocabulary are more likely to be misused it, as is largely the case with any type of slang.

 

[5jj]

I'll ain't listened to you by the year 2012.
I will have not listened to you by the year 2012.

Let me know what could be wrong here.

Everything

 

[e2e4]

/A learner/

I thought you were being facetious when you misused it so badly.

Ain't is for is not, are not, am not. It's not for "have not."

You've proven my point beautifully.

Among other reasons English learners should not use it is because words that are not part of your organically grown vocabulary are more likely to be misused it, as is largely the case with any type of slang.

Barb, this time, I am afraid I ain't proven your any point actually.

Definition of ain't short form from Cambridge Dictionary Online: Free English Dictionary and Thesaurus

ain't short form

/eɪnt/ short form not standard

am not, is not, are not, has not, or have not
He ain't going.
"Can I have a fag?" "I ain't got none left."

Let me focus on "I ain't got none left."

This is probably one of the double negations and the dictionary wanted to be authentic. I'd rather say "I ain't got any left."

 

[Barb_D]

Fine, my friend. Continue to use "ain't" any old way you wish.

Perhaps a bit more focus on the "not standard" and less on the various permutations would serve you better.

I promise not to try to correct any future use you try to make of ain't.

 

[birdeen's call]

I will have not listened to you by the year 2012.

Is this sentence possible even in this form?

 

[e2e4]

/A learner/

Fine, my friend. Continue to use "ain't" any old way you wish.

Perhaps a bit more focus on the "not standard" and less on the various permutations would serve you better.

I promise not to try to correct any future use you try to make of ain't.

Dear Barb_D, I don't know what to think now.

One more dictionary

Definition and pronunciation of ain't | Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary

ain't

short form

eɪnt

eɪnt
(non-standard or humorous)


1 am not/is not/are not
Things ain't what they used to be.
2 has not/have not
I ain't got no money.You ain't seen nothing yet.

Idioms
if it ain't broke, don't fix it

(informal) used to say that if something works well enough, it should not be changed

 

[5jj]

Fine, my friend. Continue to use "ain't" any old way you wish.

Perhaps a bit more focus on the "not standard" and less on the various permutations would serve you better.

Ecuador Zero, Barb_D gave, in post #4, a reasoned response to your question. A similar response might well have been given by any person who understands how English is normally spoken/written by reasonably educated native speakers. If you think you know better, why do you bother to ask the opinion of members of this this forum?.

I am with Barb_D: I promise not to try to correct any future use you try to make of ain't.

I will just leave you to use unacceptable English.

 

[e2e4]

/A learner/

Is this sentence possible even in this form?

Not without 'by" for sure.

 

[5jj]

I will have not listened to you by the year 2012.
Is this sentence possible even in this form?

In theory one could concoct a highly unlikely situation in which this utterance might be possible.

In reality, the short answer to your question is, of course, no.

 

[Barb_D]

I acknowledge that it can be for "has/have not," as it is in "You ain't seen nothing yet."

That doesn't mean it can be dropped into place anywhere that "have not" would be used.

I will have not seen him for six months by the time his ship returns.
I will ain't seen him -- NO!

This really is the last thing I'll say in this thread, so feel free to continue without me.

 

[5jj]

Barb, this time, I am afraid I ain't proven your any point actually.

e2e4, when your command of English is such that you do not produce utterances such as the one above, then I may read with interest your comments on Barb_D's posts.

Until that time, why not try sitting back and reading what people with some knowledge have to say before posting your guesses and opinions?

 

[e2e4]

Ain't | Define Ain't at Dictionary.com
Dictionary: Online definitions and pronunciations - Yahoo! Education
Ain't - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Collins: The Dictionary Meaning of ain't

:?:

 

[birdeen's call]

e2e4, what these entries say is all right. But they do not contradict anything the teachers told you here. Barb_D has acknowledged that "ain't" can be used to mean haven't, hasn't sometimes. What is that still confuses you?

I suggest that you read carefully what has been said on this thread. It's all sound advice.