But there is no amn't, at least not in standard English. Where did it go?
The best theory seems to be that it did once exist but became ain't, (maybe via amn't > an't > ain't) and then the latter lost its connection to the first person singular "I" and became an informal contraction that can be used with any person: I ain't, you ain't, it ain't, we ain't, they ain't. See here. I think was at one time fairly common but now has an antique feel, to me at least.
Thinking about such contractions I notice that in a question we can use aren't which is a standard contraction: I'm going to the ball, aren't I?
Where Have All The Amn't Gone?
We have the contractions
is not -> isn't
are not -> aren't
But there is no amn't, at least not in standard English. Where did it go?
The best theory seems to be that it did once exist but became ain't, (maybe via amn't > an't > ain't) and then the latter lost its connection to the first person singular "I" and became an informal contraction that can be used with any person: I ain't, you ain't, it ain't, we ain't, they ain't. See here. I think was at one time fairly common but now has an antique feel, to me at least.
Thinking about such contractions I notice that in a question we can use aren't which is a standard contraction: I'm going to the ball, aren't I?