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Can "n't " and " + [pronoun]" be used with any verb? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by loaExMachina@sh.itjust.works to c/english@lemmy.ca
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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?

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[-] oxideseven@lemmy.ca 6 points 9 months ago

Just try it with "not". If it does not (doesn't) work, then you probably should not (shouldn't) do it. There isn't a hard and fast rule on the use linguistically speaking beyond that.

I read not manga. I grow not potatoes. That sounds not like a good idea.

None of these really work, despite getting the idea across.

Speaking a language is more about the idea you're expressing and there is a lot of space in there to be a bit weird. That doesn't mean to just throw away currently established rules and expectations unless you're just trying to be silly and misunderstood. It's just not a very effective or efficient way to speak.

[-] Xerxos@lemmy.ml 3 points 9 months ago

That soundsn't like a good idea.

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this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2024
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