Amn't I right ?

[kahunabean]

My wife says 'amn't I a groovy chick' - I say 'aren't I a groovy guy' - who is gramatically correct (she is Scots if that helps)

[skelly]

I honestly couldn't say whether either of you are groovy.

[bluedolphin]

Yes, it is also used in Dublin Ireland.

[bluedolphin]

Oh I just remembered another one. Does she ever say gimme me book?

[Quizmonster]

In Ireland and Scotland "amn't" is perfectly acceptable because of long usage. However, the correct form in standard English is "aren't".

When followed by "n't", am behaves exactly like can and shall...ie it loses its final consonant and lengthens its vowel sound. Where we would expect something sounding like "aaan't", we actually get the spelling "aren't" which sounds the same anyway. The two words have simply merged in both standard British English and in American English. However, let the Jocks and Irish have their own way...nothing wrong with that at all!

[Andromeda]

It's technically 'dialect'. Therefore in Queen's English, no it isn't correct - but who speaks Queen's English??? I for one don't want our regional dialects to die out - their what keep us interesting, and always useful topics for pulling lines!

Andy

[flirty41]

I would have said it was a shortening for 'am not I' - the 'am' and the 'not' being joined together, and then the 'o' omitted and replaced by an apostrophe. Though whether it's grammatically correct, I don't know.

[WendyW]

Amn't I is also used in Lancashire and I have alway understood it to come from "am not I" Maybe its a Northern usage rather than just Scottish.

[blackburne]

'Am' is used in the Black Country too, in place of 'are'. I haven't heard "Amn't", but "Am yow..." is qite common - as "Am yow gooin' to the shop?" So there is a larger question - when did "I am, you are, he is" etc, replace "I am, you am, he am" etc in standard English? In other words, when did 'To be' change from a regular to an irregular verb? Is it something to do with Vikings? It seems to be a northern and Midland thing mainly.

[xyzzyplugh]

The Queen's English? Someone told me she was German.. Tarraa a bit!

[mikewith]

blackburne's comments on Black Country English are quite correct -- being the middle of the country and never really 'invaded' by Vikings, Romans, Angles, Celts etc, the accent spoken there is our best link back to the original language/ accent of this island.

[Andromeda]

Plugh, Heh! I almost put that!