Aren't I? Vs. Am I not? Vs. amn’t I?

“Aren’t I?” is used in informal language.

“Am I not?” is grammatical. It is formal.

Incorrect: I’m a student, aren’t I?

Correct: I’m a student, am I not?

“I am a student, aren’t I?” is accepted correct in spoken and informal written English.

“I am a student, am I not?” is correct in a formal context.

“I am a student, amn’t I?” is incorrect. However it is accepted correct in places like Scotland.

Each Other and One Another

These two are reciprocal pronouns.

We use the reciprocal pronouns each other and one another when two or more people do the same thing.

Traditionally, ‘Each other’ refers to two people. Similarly ‘One another’ refers to more than two people.

·         He and She look at each other.

·         Mary and Rani like each other.

·         Joseph, Peter and John like one another.

Standard dictionaries recognise the terms ‘Each Other’ and ‘One Another’ as interchangeable.

In spoken English, there’s no harm in following the traditional” rule. At the same time there’s no harm in ignoring it.

Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs

Verbs are classified into two categories. 

1. Dynamic verbs 

2. Stative verbs

Dynamic verbs are also called action verbs. They can be used in the progressive (continuous) form.

Example: "Peter is playing now."

Stative verbs refer to a state or condition which is not changing or likely to change.

Stative verbs cannot normally be used in the progressive (continuous) form (ing form).

Example: "John wants a cup of coffee."

Dummy Pronouns It and There

We use the term dummy pronoun to refer to the pronouns it and there used as grammatical subjects without any meaning, but with a relation to another element in the clause that carries the meaning.

English makes use of dummy pronouns in subject position.

‘It’ and ‘there’ are used in different contexts.

Look at these examples:

What time is it?  

It’s six o'clock.  

It’s raining. 

It’s time for lunch.

How far is it from here to London?

There was a tiger in this jungle.

There were a lot of people outside the police station.

There was an earthquake in the early morning.