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“Ain’t ain’t a word.” Most parents in the USA say that sentence to their kids. Mine too! For today’s English lesson, let’s have a look at this non-standard verb and how it is used (or shouldn’t be used) in English Conversation.
Here are the example sentences
Ain’t is used for every subject. Thus, you can say:
- I ain’t interested in football.
- We ain’t interested in football.
- He ain’t interested in football.
It’s also possible to use ain’t in a yes/no question
- Ain’t we going to the beach today?
- Ain’t he supposed to be wearing a seatbelt?
- You like my new idea? Ain’t I so smart?!
We also use ain’t got, which means don’t have.
- I ain’t got enough money to buy a new car.
- Jack said he ain’t got enough time to finish the project this week.
- I opened the fridge, and we ain’t got anthing to eat. I’m going shopping.
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Comments 10
Hi Michael,
Happy 4th of July!
Hear are my answers.
1. “Ain’t” was widely used in the eighteenth century.
2. Many people think that “ain’t” ain’t an English word despite how much it’s used.
I can’t catch one of the words you are saying. What kind of English word are you saying many people feel that “ain’t” ain’t?
Have a great holiday.
Hi Ryo!
I think I said, “Many people feel that ain’t ain’t a word”
Enjoy the 4th!
I found “if at all” toward the end of this episode. Check it!
I got it now:
If ain’t is used at all, it is used in very casual conversations.
or
Ain’t is used in very casual conversations, if it is used at all.
or
Ain’t is used in very casual conversations, if it at all. ← a shortened version
By the way, “At all” is used to emphasize the verb “used”
Wow, “at all” emphasizes an invisible word… I feel like I’m gazing into the depth of spoken language. 🙂
Yes….It’s English not found in textbooks…but here at Happy English (^o^)
Hi Michael
I noticed you didn*t use “gonna” in one of the phrases mentioned, when it should be more natural due to the “ain’t”. That is because it is wrong the use of gonna when not followed by a verb?
Congratulations on the new podcats. Really awesome. Ain*t?
Hi Sergio.
Are you talking about this example: “Ain’t we going to the beach today?”
We use gonna only before a verb: I’m gonna eat pizza
But we don’t use gonna before a noun: I am going to the store.
Hi Michael
The answers are:
1-Ain’t was widely used in the 18 century.
2-Many people feel that ain’t ain’t an English word despite how much it is used.
I want to ask if we use ain’t got, here it means don’t have .Does it have the same meaning if we use haven’t got?
Hi Taragy. Yes, that’s correct. “I ain’t got” means “I haven’t got” or “I don’t have”
Thanks for asking.