My friend from Spain brought this up. Does anyone know why?
2007-01-12 13:12:50 · 12 answers · asked by 19 year old girl 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I is capitalized in English because it is a proper noun. Proper nouns (People, Places, Things) are capitalized because they have a deeper meaning or connection, and are specific.
An example would be: I am going to drive my car, Bessie, to the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.
There are millions of cars, monuments, and cities out there, but these which are mentioned are specific examples. The same goes for I. I am a specific person, therefore a proper noun, which is capitalized in the English language.
2007-01-12 13:27:14 · answer #1 · answered by Sir Adam 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The word "I" is not a proper noun, it's a personal pronoun. The other pronouns don't get capitalized in the middle of a sentence.
This probably just originated from the need to make the letter stand out in a sentence i suppose! An a is wider and shaped where an i - especially in the days of everything being handwritten - might be overlooked or mistaken for a pen mark made by mistake. Try experimenting with some of the 'handwriting' fonts and you will see what I mean Now compare, even in this font, my 1st sentence and the last one - the 'i' is less noticeable than the 'I'. And remember, before fonts like this were used, the capital "i" had bars top and bottom, which further made it visible! The answer concerning "I" always being the subject is grammatically right - but not likely to have been the reason.
2007-01-12 13:42:24 · answer #2 · answered by grupoamikema 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, "I" is capitalized in English, because it is stated that the most important person in one's life, is one self. That, and only that, is why it is capitalized.
2007-01-13 00:19:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are in a position to't be banned as a results of fact their no longer relatively area of the language. What I propose by potential of it is that its no longer formally an English be conscious purely a slang be conscious, and additionally you are able to't ban slang words. And in any case i do no longer discover something undesirable with them its purely a be conscious no longer something to get dissatisfied approximately...... perchance sooner or later they'll end asserting it. purely for you shawty!!!! pay attention to me my homie, those slang words aint nothin yet words boiiii you sense me my shawty sais them and that i aint ever gonna attempt to banish them you sense. Thang!!!
2016-12-13 04:30:16 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably for the same reason we capitalize the first letter of our name
2007-01-12 13:17:28 · answer #5 · answered by jelly 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's a proper noun, referring to a particular person (taking your name instead of referring to yourself by name)...just like you capitalize other peoples' names when you write them.
2007-01-12 13:16:27 · answer #6 · answered by moondancer629 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We capitalize it when it is the subject of a sentence.
2007-01-12 13:19:33 · answer #7 · answered by mcc123 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
only when its used as a personal pronoun
2007-01-12 13:15:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it is a proper noun?
2007-01-12 13:16:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am not an animal or I think therefore I am.
2007-01-12 13:35:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋