Tag Questions

[priyaradha]

Please clarify these queries.
Which usage is correct - ain't I or aren't I?

I am a scientist,________________________
A) ain't I ?
B) am I not?
C) aren't I?
D) weren't I?

Is 'Shall we?' the right question tag?
Let's decline the invitation _____________________________
A) should we?
B) shall we?
C) will we?
D) won't we?

 

[bhaisahab]

Please clarify these queries.
Which usage is correct - ain't I or aren't I?

I am a scientist,_am I not/aren't I?_______________________
A) ain't I ?
B) am I not?
C) aren't I?
D) weren't I?

Is 'Shall we?' the right question tag?
Let's decline the invitation ____shall we?_________________________
A) should we?
B) shall we?
C) will we?
D) won't we?

.

 

[emsr2d2]

Please clarify these queries.
Which usage is correct - ain't I or aren't I?

I am a scientist,________________________
A) ain't I ?
B) am I not?
C) aren't I?
D) weren't I?

As a general rule, you should never find that "ain't" is given as the correct answer to any question!

 

[TheParser]

Please clarify these queries.
Which usage is correct - ain't I or aren't I?

I am a scientist,________________________
A) ain't I ?
B) am I not?
C) aren't I?
D) weren't I?

Is 'Shall we?' the right question tag?
Let's decline the invitation _____________________________
A) should we?
B) shall we?
C) will we?
D) won't we?

********** NOT A TEACHER **********

Hello, Priyaradha.

If you must choose only one answer, then I guess it would

be am I not. Everyone agrees that this is correct English.

In real life, however, most native speakers would probably

say aren't I because it takes too long to say am I not, and

because it sounds so formal. Most teachers would tell you

to avoid ain't because many (not all!!!) people use ain't only

when they want to be humorous or funny.

Thank you

 

[emsr2d2]

********** NOT A TEACHER **********

Hello, Priyaradha.

If you must choose only one answer, then I guess it would

be am I not. Everyone agrees that this is correct English.

In real life, however, most native speakers would probably

say aren't I because it takes too long to say am I not, and

because it sounds so formal. Most teachers would tell you

to avoid ain't because many (not all!!!) people use ain't only

when they want to be humorous or funny.

Thank you

I'm afraid I have to disagree. I have seen your recent comments about the use of contractions so I can see why you would not automatically choose "aren't I?", but these days, contractions are taught as an integral part of English.

The two academies I have worked for in Spain (as well as the biggest and most respected English teaching system in Spain) insist that when a student constructs a sentence, they use contractions wherever possible.

Teacher: Where have you been on holiday?
Student: I have been to Italy.
Teacher: Good, but instead of "I have", what could you say?
Student: Ah yes, of course. I've been to Italy.
Teacher: Great. OK, next question!

I don't think we use "aren't I" instead of "am I not" because it's faster, just because it's now natural, regular English.

I also don't think "ain't" is used to be humorous/funny. I personally agree that it's poor English and I don't use it, but it's not used for amusement value, it's simply how some people choose to speak.

 

[bhaisahab]

I'm afraid I have to disagree. I have seen your recent comments about the use of contractions so I can see why you would not automatically choose "aren't I?", but these days, contractions are taught as an integral part of English.

The two academies I have worked for in Spain (as well as the biggest and most respected English teaching system in Spain) insist that when a student constructs a sentence, they use contractions wherever possible.

Teacher: Where have you been on holiday?
Student: I have been to Italy.
Teacher: Good, but instead of "I have", what could you say?
Student: Ah yes, of course. I've been to Italy.
Teacher: Great. OK, next question!

This refers to spoken English, and we naturally contract words when we speak, sometimes it would sound quite strange and formal if we didn't. However, I think it is wrong to teach learners to write with contractions "whenever possible".

 

[emsr2d2]

This refers to spoken English, and we naturally contract words when we speak, sometimes it would sound quite strange and formal if we didn't. However, I think it is wrong to teach learners to write with contractions "whenever possible".

Yes, I should have been clearer. They're encouraged to use the contractions as often as possible when speaking, and when it's appropriate when writing. They have to know, of course, that it's not appropriate when writing a business letter or email, but in their general compositions, they're expected to use them.

 

[rx-f]

I also don't think "ain't" is used to be humorous/funny. I personally agree that it's poor English and I don't use it, but it's not used for amusement value, it's simply how some people choose to speak.

Just out of curiosity, I looked up "ain't" in the Online Etymology Dictionary. Here's the entry:

"1706, originally a contraction of am not, and in proper use with that sense until it began to be used as a generic contraction for are not, is not, etc., in early 19c. Cockney dialect of London, popularized by representations of this in Dickens, etc., which led to the word being banished from correct English."

With or without that reference, "ain't" is not poor English. On the contrary, it seems to be used not uncommonly in certain dialects of AmE. Is is informal, however, and wouldn't be used in written English unless you were writing in the dialect in question.

 

[priyaradha]

Dear All,
Thanks for your quick responses. Learnt quite a lot. Glad to see so many perspectives on a single point. :up: