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ESL forum >
Ask for help > Can you help me?
Can you help me?
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veronika74
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Can you help me?
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Can we use the short form of �are � after �What �? e.g. What �re those?
I have never seen this sentence before.
Thanks,
Veronika
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7 Feb 2013
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MoodyMoody
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I hear this only in casual conversation. I don �t believe that "what �re" is considered standard English. |
7 Feb 2013
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yanogator
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and I wouldn �t use it in writing, except in quoted speech. Bruce |
7 Feb 2013
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Zora
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Goodness no. I agree that in conversation you might hear something similar but that is because some people have the tendency to naturally shorten their words or not pronounce certain letters.
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7 Feb 2013
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douglas
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okay, if this is true what about: "what �s your problem?" yes or no?
If yes, why is it okay with one form of to be and not the other? |
8 Feb 2013
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Zora
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Well, I �d say why can �t you contract �I �m not � as �I amn �t � or �there are - there �re �- you can �t. I am sure there is a reason somewhere but often we just have to say �that �s the way it is �! lol
Honestly I think it has to do with the fact that � �s � on a word is easier to say than �re - or at least that �s what I used to tell people. I don �t know if that explanation is right or wrong, but most times the students seemed ok with the answer.
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8 Feb 2013
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