Forums » ESL, Rules of English Grammar, Help and Games » ESL General English Grammar Questions » constant corrections of my use of verb contractions
Click here to play!

constant corrections of my use of verb contractions

Click here to play
   Share on Facebook  
Skicook  #265638  Mon, 11 Sep 06 10:24 PM

Doesn't it drive everyone crazy when your girl/boyfriend constantly corrects your use of verb contractions to start a sentence. In my daily conversations with others, I often begin a sentence with the use of a verb contraction. In the example I used to start this paragraph I would be interrupted in mid-sentence to be informed: "You mean, does it drive everyone crazy". My partner refuses to accept that proper English dialogue in daily informal conversation can include the use of verb contractions when beginning a sentence. I understand that the use of verb contractions is best avoided in formal writing, but is it grammatically correct to start a sentence in conversation using one.

This refers to most verb contractions such as: aren't, don't, won't, wouldn't, couldn't, shouldn't, etc.
  
Not Ranked
Joined on Mon, Sep 11 2006
New Member (01)
, , ,
milky  #265640  Mon, 11 Sep 06 10:32 PM

Your "Doesn't it drive everyone crazy when your girl/boyfriend constantly corrects your use of verb contractions to start a sentence." is an example of a type of "question" called the rising declarative, IMO.
  
Top 50 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Jan 15 2004
Senior Member (3,149)
Hume said that if we had perfect or complete descriptive knowledge of reality, we could not, by reasoning, derive a single valid "ought".
,
Marius Hancu  #265648  Mon, 11 Sep 06 11:09 PM
You find plenty of these in good fiction. Not sure there is any such rule.

Some Short Stories by James, Henry - Chapter 7

"Doesn't it depend a good deal on what you call drama?" Maud spoke as one who had already thought it out. "Doesn't it depend on what you call romance?" ...

The Sea Fairies by Baum, L. Frank - Chapter 16
"Doesn't it ever get dark?" inquired Trot. "Never. We know nothing of the passage of time or of day or night. The light always shines just as you see it now ...

Mary Louise by Baum, L. Frank - Chapter 1

"Doesn't it seem to reflect on our characters?" timidly asked Dorothy Knerr. "Indeed it does!" asserted Sue Finley. "But here comes Mary Louise; ...

Anne of Green Gables by Montgomery, Lucy Maud - Chapter 36

Doesn't it seem wonderful? I'll have a brand new stock of ambition laid in by that time after three glorious, golden months of vacation. ...
  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006
Montreal, Canada
Veteran Member (11,673)
Proficient Speaker
Aperisic  #265651  Mon, 11 Sep 06 11:20 PM

Doesn't it drive everyone crazy when your girl/boyfriend constantly corrects your use of verb contractions to start a sentence.

  • Doesn't it drive you mad when you know you're right but the other person refuses to consider that a possibility?
  • Doesn't it drive you mad when people make a huge deal about you making a small mistake?
  • Doesn't it drive you crazy when a small client who is clearly on a shoestring budget manages to pay you on time but that huge corporate or government client keeps you waiting?

All I can say is that you need a question mark:

Doesn't it drive everyone crazy when your girl/boyfriend constantly corrects/is constantly correcting your use of verb contractions to start a sentence?

I understand that the use of verb contractions is best avoided in formal writing, but is it grammatically correct to start a sentence in conversation using one.

Why not? I found it in many interviews all around the Internet. It is not a true question. It is a call to agree with the observation that follows and to give the personal reasons or opinion.
  
Top 150 Contributor
Joined on Fri, Jul 21 2006
Full Member (409)
, , , ,
nona the brit  #265697  Tue, 12 Sep 06 01:47 AM

Isn't she silly.

Presumably she would want us to say 'Is she not silly'? Contractions are fine in conversation.
  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004
England
Veteran Member (11,302)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
The name says it all.
, ,
Yoong Liat  #265764  Tue, 12 Sep 06 05:50 AM

Hi Skicook

Verb contractions are acceptable in conversations. In writing a composition or a story, it is correct to use verb contractions when a character is speaking.

  
Top 25 Contributor
Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006
Singapore
Veteran Member (5,863)
Yoong Liat
, ,
nona the brit  #265794  Tue, 12 Sep 06 08:39 AM
They are also ok in informal writing.
  
Waterbaby  #266042  Tue, 12 Sep 06 06:13 PM
Today, 5:39 PM Post :266018
Grammar Geek is online. Last active: 12/09/2006 11:59:43 Grammar Geek



Female
Top 25 Posts
Posts 2,460
Advanced Member
Joined on 10-01-2006
Pennsylvania, USA
 "Proficient Speaker" Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team. "Trusted Users" Trusted users are allowed to use additional capabilities of the site such as private messaging to all users and various other advanced features. You cannot join this role unless you are promoted by an administrator.
Re: Contractions..doesn't, aren't, won't, shouldn't....
Reply Quote

When the question is phrased with the negative (don't you, doesn't he), it shows an assumption on the part of the speaker that he or she is correct. It can also be used to show surprise.  I don't think the phrasing makes it "negative" in the emotional sense, but the assumption the person has made can be offensive. (In other words, blame the person asking, not the grammar.)

And, as said above, you simply smile and say "No, not at all." or "No, not yet."

Barbara
American English
  
Not Ranked
Joined on Tue, Sep 12 2006
New Member (02)
, , , , ,
Grammar Geek  #266138  Tue, 12 Sep 06 10:12 PM

Uh... I'd like to point out that the posting immediately above is from another thread. In that one, the person expressed frustration with how to respond when questions DO begin in the negative, not whether they were okay grammatically.

I too would feel under attack if my husband constantly corrected me.

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006
Pennsylvania, USA
Veteran Member (15,288)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
Barbara, who answers in American English.
,