By Negatives, Contractions

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...

Hi Viceidol, Going strictly by ear, "must not" works fine in your example, but we seem to use the contraction only in cases where we're warning someone not to do something. I have no idea why. You mustn't be at home when they come. They're planning to kill you. I have...

Hello Ipkqi, and welcome to English forums. I have deleted unnecessary verbiage and underlined other problem areas:When it comes to talk about cooperation, most people seem to tend to choose partners who have the same views with them. Because they think disagreement can cause stress and...

Anthon wrote:Hi, can someone check my sentences: 1. Can you not say about him again? Do you mean, "Can you / Can't you please repeat what you said about him?" 2. Have you been trying not to be a cheater? Have/Haven't you been trying not to cheat? 3. Can't you say it all out? Do you...

Argh! The adverb question again! Have you gone through this one yet? Post:258302 Here's a new take on the subject. If it doesn't appeal to you, toss it in the trash! Safe and typical practice: Use contracted forms wherever possible. Then place the adverb of frequency after the...

My question is "If a sentence contains 'didn't + something' in the if-clause, it should not be a subjunctive?"I'm lost by your use of "should". There's nothing to be done in terms of what one should or should not do. didn't is simply a non-standard substitute subjunctive for the standard...

It seems you knew the answer before you asked the question. The point I was making has nothing to do with any specific rule. It has to do with the fact that it is a "rule". "Rule" 14827739 (or whatever number you want to give it): Subjects and verbs agree in number. "Rule" 40378299 (or...

Contractions are fine in negative sentences.

Kooyeen wrote:I feel my versions are ok (that's the way to ask), but contractions are not used (so only the first in each pair should sound natural).None of your questions sound very natural because the scope of answers is too broad. Contractions are fine though for negative questions and are...

Hi,What languages do you not speak?What languages don't you speak?What languages can you not speak?What languages can't you speak?What languages are not spoken here?What languages aren't spoken here?What languages is Mary not learning?What languages isn't Mary learning?How do I ask a "negative"...