19
Can "n't " and " + [pronoun]" be used with any verb? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by loaExMachina@sh.itjust.works to c/english@lemmy.ca
20 comments fedilink hide all child comments

When I first learnt English, I thought this type of formulation only worked with a few verbs like "do", "have","should" (ex: "Should I do this? No, I shouldn't.")

More recently I also encountered "Need I?" and "needn't", tho they're more rarely used. But this got me wondering, is it still an exceptional construction, with "need" being one of the exceptions, or can it be done with every verbs? For example, are the following sentences correct:

  • Read you mangas? No, I readn't them.
  • Grow they potatoes? No, they grown't these.
  • Sounds it like a good idea? No, it soundsn't.

I know talking like this would raise a few eyebrows, but does it break any established rule?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev 2 points 7 months ago

It was intentional, to point out a use that's not a helping verb.

[-] ProstheticBrain@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Ah ok fair enough, I just found it confusing because the two have the same spelling but completely different meanings and uses.

In the first context it's kind of synonymous with "wish" right? So implying that anyone would replace the will (as in willpower/willed etc) with "won't" in that example is a bit confusing, because that would never happen. In the same way you'd never replace "wish" with "won't".

Edit: just wanted to say I have zero education in this area, I'm just a native speaker, but I love reading these threads when they come up as it helps me understand more about the language too.

this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2024
19 points (91.3% liked)

English usage and grammar

365 readers
1 users here now

A community to discuss and ask questions about English usage and grammar.

If your post refers to a specific English variant, please indicate it within square brackets (for instance [Canadian]).

Online resources:

Sibling communities:

Rules of conduct:

The usual ones on Lemmy and Mastodon.. In short: be kind or at least respectful, no offensive language, no harassment, no spam.

(Icon: entry "English" in the Oxford English Dictionary, 1933. Banner: page from Chaucer's "The Wife of Bath's Tale".)

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
pglpm@lemmy.ca
pglpm@mander.xyz
pglpm@lemmy.sdf.org