-n't

From Wiktionary

See also not

Contents 1 Suffix 1.1 Usage 1.2 Related words 2 Other websites

[change] Suffix

Suffix -n't

1. n't is used to negate a clause.

[change] Usage

The suffix -n't can only be added to auxiliary verbs (also called helping verbs). The resulting word usually means the same thing as the verb plus not (for example, "don't" means "do not", "won't" means "will not"). Some verbs change their spelling when -n't is added (for example, shall becomes shan't) and some verbs do not accept -n't (for example, may & am).

[change] Related words

not ain't / aren't / weren't isn't / wasn't don't / doesn't / didn't haven't / hasn't / hadn't won't / wouldn't

can't / couldn't shan't / shouldn't mightn't oughtn't mustn't needn't daren't

[change] Other websites

Zwicky, Arnold M., & Geoffrey K. Pullum (1983) ‘Cliticization vs. inflection: English n’t’. Language 59, 502–513