I'm or I am

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gilkid - 17 Jun 2005 21:15 GMT

HI quel différence sa fait ?

Thank you

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Arthur - 17 Jun 2005 23:15 GMT

wrote:

> HI quel différence sa fait ?
>
> Thank you

In my opinion I'm is spoken English, whereas I am is
written English.

Arthur

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CyberCypher - 18 Jun 2005 00:30 GMT

> HI quel différence sa fait ?

"I'm" cannot be used at the end of a sentence in speech or in writing:

A: I'm not hungry, but he is.
B: He's not hungry but I am.

C: Who's going to New York tomorrow?
D: I am. [NOT: *"I'm."]

Otherwise, "I'm", being a contraction, is less formal than "I am".

And it can't be used to emphasize the verb:

E: Yes, I AM hungry.

versus

F: Yes, I'm hungry.

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Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / June 2005

I'm or I am