"Didn't I"?

[_V1qY]

Why is it acceptable to say "Didn't I"? It extends to "Did not I" which makes no sence.

 

[dickfour]

Makes perfect sense "Did not I slay the dragon Sir Robert?" It doesn't sound weird to me

 

[_V1qY]

Shouldn't that be "Did I not slay the dragon, Sir Robert?"?

 

[Snailface]

Sence doesn't make sense.

I do think you have a good point, though. "Did not I" sounds awkward and improper.

 

[yuyuyup]

There are a million and one linguistic blunders you could harp upon, why single one out (SORRY IF THIS IS OFF TOPIC)

 

[Foxi4]

It's the rule of inversion in questions - to create a question, you can invert the original sentence and negate it. To make it more simple, you ommit the main object. It works both ways, actually - for negative as well as positive sentences.

I did do the dishes, didn't I?
I didn't dent your car door, did I?
He does make a point, doesn't he?
She doesn't like this colour, does she?

It does make perfect grammatical sense, and it extends to "did I not", not "did not I" as you claim, simply because it is inverted. This is enforced as to fit into the general rule regarding this kind of sentences.

"Do" in elliptical sentences

 

[ShadowSoldier]

Shouldn't that be "Did I not slay the dragon, Sir Robert?"?

Should not that be correct?

 

[Snailface]

Shouldn't that be "Did I not slay the dragon, Sir Robert?"?

Should not that be correct?

Well played, sir.

Sometimes awkward speech isn't bad grammar, it's just ... unusual. Always use contractions!

 

[Gahars]

English is infamous for its various contradictions and exceptions, and this little thing is the one that grinds your gears?

 

[ProtoKun7]

When extended, "didn't I" becomes "did I not".

Things won't always work if they're transcribed directly literally.

 

[AceWarhead]

English is notorious for the many exceptions and oddities in its rules in grammar and pronunciation. This is a small thing compared to the other weird stuff.

 

[ouch123]

Note: Not embedded because then I can't link to a specific time in the video.

 

[JoostinOnline]

I believe the switch is related to the contraction being used in a question.

Didn't I? = Did I not?
I didn't. = I did not.

 

[retrodoctor]

Did not I is perfectly acceptable; it's simply older English vernacular. I literally remember the freshman English course I took wherein I had learnt this.

 

[Foxi4]

I believe the switch is related to the contraction being used in a question.

Didn't I? = Did I not?
I didn't. = I did not.

It works that way due to word order rules. You can negate did by using did not (didn't), but you cannot negate I with I'nt - there's no such thing. You have to place the negation in its logical place depending on the sentence.

Negations don't follow nouns, in this case, they follow the auxiliary verb.

Did not I is perfectly acceptable; it's simply older English vernacular. I literally remember the freshman English course I took wherein I had learnt this.

That kind of use of language is called an Archaism, it's acceptable, but not necessarily desirable depending on the context.

Jesus saith to her: Did not I say to thee, that if thou believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?
~John 11:40