He's not/He isn't

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Penicillin

#433862 Tue, 23 Oct 07 04:43 PM

Hello

What's the most common?

- He's not OR He isn't.

- You'd not OR You wouldn't

- They're not OR They aren't

Thanks

Penicillin

Joined on Wed, Aug 25 2004

Full Member (304)

Yankee

#433875 Tue, 23 Oct 07 05:21 PM

Hi Ohn

Both "He's not" and They're not" are common, but I'd say that "He isn't" and "They aren't" are used a little more often.

"You'd not" is possible, but far less common than "You wouldn't".

That's my take.

Yankee

Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006

Connecticut, USA

Senior Member (4,237)

Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

Kooyeen

#433911 Tue, 23 Oct 07 07:04 PM

Hi,
I usually say "He's not", "You're not" (your not), "They're not" (there not)... instead of "isn't", "aren't".
I think the version I use are more common, but as you see, Amy just said it's the other way around. Anyway, I don't think you need to worry, because both versions are in use in everyday English. Smile [:)]

Kooyeen

Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005

Italy

Senior Member (4,033)

If you don't have a sense of humor already, it's about time you buy one.

CalifJim

#433948 Tue, 23 Oct 07 08:50 PM

Google counts, if you trust them:

he isn't 2,240,000
he's not 1,910,000

I would not consider this a significant difference.

I imagine the others that use the present tense of to be are about the same proportionally.

With modal verbs, however, the cases where the word not is isolated are far less common. Modals typically take the attached n't form.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (17,477)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Verbs, Tenses, Present tenses, Modals, Modal verbs