Sign in
The verb to be, part 4 of 5
Verb To Be Negative Contractions: Isn't, Aren't, I'm Not
Is not becomes isn't, are not becomes aren't, and I am not becomes I'm not: she isn't here, we aren't ready.
The idea
What the short negative is
It is the negative of to be the way people say it. There are two forms: join the verb and not (isn't) or the subject and the verb (she's not).
- With is and are: n't. The bus isn't late.
- Or with 's and 're. We're not sure.
- With I, only one. I'm not sleepy.
When to use it
To make negatives the way people speak: in conversations, messages, and emails. These expressions go with it:
With I'm not
- I'm not kidding
- I'm not a fan
- I'm not ready yet
With isn't
- It isn't fair
- It isn't easy
- It isn't worth it
With aren't and 're not
- You aren't in trouble
- They aren't home
- We're not done
- We're not there yet
Examples
- Saying who someone is not
She isn't my teacher.
- How you do not feel
I'm not scared.
- What something is not like
The tea isn't sweet.
- Not yet
The kids aren't home yet.
- The other short form
He's not here.
How to build it
3 steps
- Join is or are with notIs not becomes isn't; are not becomes aren't:She isn't
- Or join the subject and the verbHe is not can also be he's not:He's not
- With I, only oneThis is the only short form with I:I'm not sure.
With isn't / aren't
- SubjectThe bank
- isn't / aren'tisn't
- complementopen.
With 's not / 're not
- Subject + 's / 'reThey're
- notnot
- complementhere.
From the long form to the short form
The apostrophe takes the place of the o in not
- she is notshe isn't
- it is notit isn't
- Ana is notAna isn't
- we are notwe aren't
- they are notthey aren't
- you are notyou aren't
- I am not sureI'm not sure
- I am not lateI'm not late
- I am not homeI'm not home
The rule
The two short forms
| Long form | With n't | With 's / 're |
|---|---|---|
| I am not | (none) | I'm not |
| she is not | she isn't | she's not |
| we are not | we aren't | we're not |
| they are not | they aren't | they're not |
How to pronounce it
isn't
/ˈɪzənt/Two syllables: /ˈɪzənt/.
aren't
/ɑrnt/One syllable: /ɑrnt/.
i'm not
/aɪm nɑt//aɪm/ and /nɑt/, with no pause.
Check
(blank) ready yet. Which one goes in the blank?
Don't confuse it with don't
He isn't hungry.
With be: isn't
He doesn't eat pork.
With another verb: doesn't
Isn't and aren't go with be. Don't and doesn't go with other verbs.
Don't and doesn'tIn real life
Both forms are correct: she isn't and she's not. Use the one that comes naturally; with I, the only one is I'm not.
Frequently asked questions
Can you say I amn't?
Not in American English: amn't is only heard in Scotland and Ireland. With I the short form is I'm not.
Is she isn't the same as she's not?
Yes, both mean she is not and work the same way. Only the joined words change: is with not, or she with is.
Which one is more common with a name?
With a name or a thing, isn't is more common: My car isn't here. With pronouns you hear both.
In short
- Is not becomes isn't; are not becomes aren't.
- You can also say she's not, we're not.
- With I, only I'm not: amn't is not used.
- Isn't goes with be; doesn't goes with other verbs.