and why is it not capitailsed in words like "i'm"?
2007-02-20 09:32:01 · 16 answers · asked by distant_foe 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Sorry - ignore the i'm bit!
2007-02-20 09:37:01 · update #1
The word "I" is considered a proper noun. A proper noun is the word for a unique entitiy like a person, a city, or a country and is always capitalized. Basically, that means that the word "I" is just like other names such as "Jenny," and "Pope John Paul."
"I'm" should always be capitalized as well. "Me" should not, but that is because "me" can never be the subject of a sentence.
2007-02-20 09:40:58 · answer #1 · answered by Rosasharn 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Contrary to what 24 out of 25 answerers have said so far 'I' is NOT a noun it is a personal pronoun! He, she, it, we, you and they are also personal pronouns, but unless they start a sentence, they are NOT capitalised; so why should 'I' be?
In many foreign languages there are still two forms of 'you' and 'You'. The latter is capitalised and is the polite form that is used when addressing a stranger (of unknown status!) or someone of superior status. I have a feeling that originally there were, in English as well, 'polite' forms of I (used when addressing an inferior), He, She, We and They.
I suspect, therefore, that the capitalised form of 'I' is a 'fossilised' polite form when, especially in the egalitarian English language, most grammatical forms in speech recognising another persons' superior status have long vanished from the language along with, e.g 'thou' and 'thee'.
2007-02-20 11:55:50 · answer #2 · answered by narkypoon 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is capitalized in "I'm". I is a proper noun, always capitalized. If you are referring to an "im" as in instant message, then there would be no need for capitalization.
2007-02-20 09:37:12 · answer #3 · answered by J M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the English language people's names are always capitalized, as well as I when referring to one's self. There are many other languages that do not do this.
I'm should be capitalized in the English language.
2007-02-20 09:35:39 · answer #4 · answered by odandme 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was gonna type the same thing as your second answer said...........so she beat me to it.......it is a proper noun.......so to be grammatically correct, you must capitalize it.
2007-02-20 09:38:05 · answer #5 · answered by cajunrescuemedic 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Because I said so!" or at least that's what my mom would say... actually I is a proper noun and is therefore is capitalized, as well I'm should be capitalized... it is improper not to
2007-02-20 10:29:31 · answer #6 · answered by JustJen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because "I" is a proper noun, just as the name of a person. And "I'm" is capitalized!!!!!
2007-02-20 09:36:09 · answer #7 · answered by LHA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is in words like that I'm, it grammatically correct because it is proper noun.
2007-02-20 09:35:51 · answer #8 · answered by glass. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because i is a proper noun. It is the same reason you must capitalize names
2007-02-20 09:35:04 · answer #9 · answered by ladystardust566 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The word "I'm" IS capitalized.
2007-02-20 09:34:48 · answer #10 · answered by CaptDare 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋