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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > I ´m    

I ´m



poppyzey
Turkey

I ´m
 
Hi everyone, Can you help me find the answer : where we can ´t use " i ´m " . as far as i know we can ´t use it at the end of a sentence but i don ´t know the detail . I will be pleased if you can help.

26 Nov 2013      





yanogator
United States

I ´m answering off the top of my head:
Definitely never at the end of a sentence or even a clause.
 
Also, when the "am" is being emphasized. Popeye ´s famous quote "I am what I am, and that ´s all that I am". (although he says it "I yam what I yam...")
 
Bruce
 
 

26 Nov 2013     



cunliffe
United Kingdom

In answer to a question like this: ´Who is the prettiest of them all? � ´I am �. 

26 Nov 2013     



jarek2011
Poland

Cunliffe, why the reply "I am" is not grammatically sound to the question you mentioned?

26 Nov 2013     



cunliffe
United Kingdom

It is, but ´I ´m � isn ´t. I may have misunderstood the question. 

26 Nov 2013     



Jayho
Australia

Hi Poppyzey
.
The rule of thumb is that contractions that are formed by noun/pronoun + an auxiliary verb do not usually come at the end of a clause and that those formed by an auxiliary verb + not (i.e negative contractions) can
 
For example:
 
I am happy = I ´m happy
He is not happy = he isn ´t happy
 
Are you happy - yes I am (not yes I ´m)
 
Is he happy - no he is not = no he isn ´t
 
Please note that am not is only contracted in questions to aren ´t
 
See Michael Swan ´s Practical English Usage (143) for a more detailed explanantion.
 
Cheers
 
Jayho
 
 

26 Nov 2013