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Is not she a teacher?

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keannu

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If any of my interpretations is wrong, please correct me.

1. Is she a teacher? - I wonder if she is a teacher, I'm not sure she is, I'm more negative about her being a teacher.
2. Isn't she a teacher? - I'm kind of sure of believe she is a teacher, but I'm not sure.
3. Is not she a teacher? - unlikely to be said. Do you ever say like this?
4. Is she not a teacher? - I'm surprised to know she is not a teacher.
 

bhaisahab

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If any of my interpretations is wrong, please correct me.

1. Is she a teacher? - I wonder if she is a teacher.
2. Isn't she a teacher? - I think she is a teacher, is that not true?
3. Is not she a teacher? - Wrong.
4. Is she not a teacher? - Same meaning as #2.

Bhai.
 

keannu

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Can you explain why 3 doesn't work? I think there's no reason, they just don't say it.
3. Is not she a teacher? - Wrong.
 

5jj

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Can you explain why 3 doesn't work? I think there's no reason, they just don't say it.
3. Is not she a teacher? - Wrong.
Is she not a teacher? -Formal
Isn't she a teacher? - Normal
Is not she a teacher? - Unnatural.

That's just the way it is.
 

BobK

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:up: But the 'Is not she...' version is occasionally used in rhetoric 'Comrades, is not this the point of no return?'; but even then, it's rather dated. In Jane Austen I wouldn't be surprised to see 'Is not she "the belle of the ball"'.

b
 
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