Is it supposed to be in contracted form or not ?

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Anthon  #468836  Fri, 25 Jan 08 06:19 PM
Hi,Gurus, lately I've been hearing many people saying question in this form: "Will you not hate me again?" and "Can you not say it again?" Is it acceptable in standard english? and does it mean the same as "Won't you hate me again?" and "Can't you say it again?" (subsequently) and does it apply for "should" and "may"

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CalifJim  #468861  Fri, 25 Jan 08 08:01 PM
The forms Will you not ... ?  and Won't you ... ? are equivalent.  Both are grammatical.
Nevertheless, native speakers of modern English almost always use the contracted form.
The uncontracted form sounds stilted and old-fashioned or literary to my ear.

(The same applies to all the modals and auxiliaries, not just to will.)

CJ

  
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