grammaticality - Is "aren't I" correct grammar?


Since "amn't I" is so clunky, is "aren't I" grammatically correct? Or is the only way to say this "Am I not"?



Answer



The NOAD reports that aren't is the contraction of are not, and am not; in the latter case, it is used only in questions.



Why aren't I being given a pay raise?



The Collins English Dictionary says the same, but it says that using aren't as contraction of am not is informal, and chiefly British.


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