aren't they and am I not

[happys82]

Can somebody explain me why ( aux.verb+not+subject+verb)
Aren't they going?
but (aux.verb+subject+not+verb)
Am I not going ?

 

[JJM Ballantyne]

"Can somebody explain me why ( aux.verb+not+subject+verb)
Aren't they going?
but (aux.verb+subject+not+verb)
Am I not going ?"

It's because of the word aren't which incorporates the contracted negative particle -n't [not].

The verb are and the particle n't cannot be separated in English; together they form a single word aren't. You cannot say:

Are they n't going?

 

[happys82]

Thanks very much. Someone asked me this question and I tried to answer it. It seems I gave correct answer.

 

[Horsa]

I agree with JJM Ballantyne but are you sure that was what was puzzling the student? The thing most students find difficult is why we use a plural form of be with a singular pronoun.