Why not 'you're'

   Share on Facebook  
ciderfairy  #501691  Thu, 17 Apr 08 04:00 AM

'How beautiful you are tonight.'  Why can't 'you are' be contracted to 'you're'?

 Your help would be appreciated 

  
Not Ranked
Joined on Thu, Apr 17 2008
New Member (04)
CalifJim  #501727  Thu, 17 Apr 08 05:40 AM
 You can't have an affirmative contraction before a gap, although you can have a negative one.

You are so beautiful tonight.

How beautiful you are __ _______ tonight!

*How beautiful you're tonight! 

__________ 

You are smart and I am smart, too.

You are smart and I am ____, too.

*You're smart and I'm, too. 

You're smart, but I'm not.

You're smart, but he's not.

You're smart, but he isn't. 

_________ 

He is taller than you are (tall).

He is taller than you are ____.

*He's taller than you're ____.

________ 

I'll go to the concert, but you won't __ __ ___ ______.

*I won't go to the concert, but you'll __ __ ___ _______.

I won't go to the concert, but you will __ __ ___ _______.

(Recall that * indicates an ungrammatical sentence.)

CJ 

 

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member (16,979)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
ciderfairy  #501764  Thu, 17 Apr 08 07:58 AM

Thank you very much.

I have another query, if you would be so kind.

 

'Do you remember locking the door?' Correct

'Did you remember to lock the door?' Correct

'Did you remember locking the door?' Incorrect, but I don't know why.

  
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service