Why can you say "aren't you" but you can't say "are not you"?

Question

To make the above breakdown work you have to rearrange the words as to make them read "are you not". Isn't this wierd?

Answer 1

"Are not you" is an archaic word structure that doesn't get used much these days, but you might find it in an old book; Jane Austen might have used it in the mouth of an old-fashioned character. The abbreviation became popular before the structure went out of style.

Answer 2

Not sure that I agree.

I 'always' have a problem with 'an hotel' ~ when it comes to saying it. It seem easier saying the words, 'a hotel.'

I really don't understand Why 'a hotel' is incorrect, but have been assured by the teachers of the subject that it is. Apparently something to do with the Rules of ''Grammar'' (though I'm unsure just whose she was. Yet another mystery of Life).


Sash.

Answer 3

1. contraction of are not.
2. contraction of am not (used interrogatively).


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[Origin: as contr. of am not, a doublet of ain't (without raising of the vowel), sp. aren't by r-less speakers; ar was later substituted for the long a by speakers who regularly pronounce pre-consonantal r]


—Usage note The social unacceptability of ain't, the historical contraction of am not, has created a gap in the pattern of verbal contractions. I'm not, the alternative to I ain't, has no corresponding interrogative form except ain't I. In questions, ain't I is often avoided by the use of aren't I: I'm right, aren't I? Aren't I on the list? This aren't is simply a different outcome of the same historical development that yielded ain't, but the fact that it is spelled and pronounced like the contraction of are not (as in You are staying, aren't you?) apparently gives it, for some, an acceptability that ain't lacks. The use of aren't I is objected to by others because a declarative counterpart, I aren't, does not exist. Many speakers, however, prefer aren't I to the uncontracted, rather formal am I not. See also ain't, contraction.

Answer 4

Check out Jane Austen. She had a stylistic habit of translating contractions literally! Technically, though, it is not grammatically correct.

Answer 5

because people have stopped speaking in the queens English, including the queen herself apparently, this creates a lot of confusion in the way you should say phrases. such as the one you have pointed out.....

Answer 6

I thought that was an excellent question, but then thought to myself "Are not you?".

Then I said it out loud, slowly at first "Are. Not. You."

It wasn't difficult. Are not you. I can say it, in fact, I just said it three times.

It doesn't make sense though.

Answer 7

You COULD say "are not you" but it sounds weird so people say "aren't you" instead. How weird would it be if we all went around saying "Are not you going ....... yadda yadda etc." It would just be random.

Answer 8

you can...its just that the human race has gotten a bit on sloppy side of grammer.

truely we could say:
arent you coming?
or....
are you not coming?

they mean the same thing...and its grammerful

:)

Answer 9

That's the joy of the language.

Answer 10

That's because the correct way to say it is

Are you not