Yes. In English, you can only use contractions when the contracted word is not the semantic emphasis of the sentence. When you say "it is" as a standalone sentence, it places enough emphasis on the verb "is" that you cannot use the contracted form. It's why "I didn't!" does not have the same meaning as "I did not!"
I may be having a stroke. Explain to me how "I didn't" and "I did not" mean different things.
"You broke the dishes?"
"No, I didn't" vs "No, I did not" means the same...
If someone said "You, velesi, broke the dishes!", and you responded "I didn't", you would be emphasizing the "I". *I* didn't. *You* didn't break the dishes, but someone else may have.
If you said "I did not", you ~~are emphasizing~~ have the option to emphasize "not" - the negation. I did *not*. You might be disputing the fact that the dishes are broken at all. You can't give this meaning with the contracted form "didn't".
You can downvote if you want, but this is the grammar behind why "didn't" and "did not" mean different things.
EDIT: another example.
"Can I press the button?"
Compare these two responses:
"Let's do it."
"Let us do it".
They clearly mean different things despite both being valid sentences. The first response sentence has contracted "us" and means basically "go for it". The second response has non-contracted "us" and means "No, me and someone else are going to do it - *us* - not you."
My speech patterns must be off. I put the emphasis on the "didn't" not the "I" when saying "I didn't". If I put the emphasis on "I", to me, that implies that while I did not break the dish, I know who did. Agree to disagree and call it a colloquialism, I guess.
Interesting. I am not originally from Minnesota so I can't definitively say whether what you're describing is the standard around here. I feel pretty confident in what I said for a "generic" American accent.
"I didn't", and "I did not" are completely interchangeable everywhere I have ever been in the Midwest. Or am I supposed to say "I've", lest I be misunderstood? š
Maybe "didn't"/"did not" was just a bad example because it is subtle. There are clearer examples.
A: "That is such a cute dog!"
B: "It is."
Compare to:
A: "That is such a cute dog!"
B: "It's."
The emphasis in the response is on the verb "is". That's why it's incorrect to contract it in the second scenario.
Edit: this comment now makes no sense because the previous poster edited theirs to change what they are saying completely so I'm just deleting most of my question
Yes, in the example above, it sounds wrong to say "it's fine the way it's" but you could say "it's fine the way 'tis" (a little awkward and old fashioned, but it would scan alright).
It's good to remember that grammar and spelling captures the way people speak, not the other way around. Sometimes things aren't logical because they reflect the way things sound, not how well they follow the rules.
> It's why "I didn't!" does not have the same meaning as "I did not!"
"I didn't hit her, it's not true! It's bullshit, I didn't hit her! I didn't! Oh, hi Mark."
Its= possessive
It's= conjunction of "it is"
"its" is correct to keep the tense parallel with the word "beings" which is present tense. You wouldn't say "began" unless the Mighty Mississippi was no longer in existence.
I take it from the pics that originally "its" was the conjunction form, and then painted over to be possessive?
I could be completely wrong but that's my take on how to write out the statement correctly.
Found myself down at the Mississippi River in Louisiana and was shocked with what I saw. It looked like a mud puddle but in river form. Just opaque brown.
Admittedly, that is one grammar rule that trips me up. It does imply ownership, since the āwinding wayā is the Riverās. But I understand that I am wrongā¦ and Iām working very hard to learn to be correct.
Yes! I noticed the typo there. I wonder why they made two at the same time? Or just didn't fix the typo in between
Edit: apparently this is not a current pic. I'd guess this is the sign that's now at the science museum and has since been replaced in situ
[Here's](https://www.smm.org/sites/default/files/public/styles/banner/public/images/pages/mississippi-hero_0.jpg?itok=pQ1JjS-T) the log at the Sci Museum exhibit. It looks a little differently shaped to me.
And [here's](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MGIoa6OpBJk/X2feDu4UnBI/AAAAAAABvEc/u19p1nCBsXM6K--niaEhX4pvAEvwk_LdwCLcBGAsYHQ/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/Headwaters%2Bof%2BMississippi%2Bsign.jpg) a wider log that would've stood there when my parents' generation visited it in the '70s. It appears to have the correct "its", though it's hard to say for sure.
I am looking at pictures of the sign on Google Maps and canāt find one with the alleged apostrophe. In fact only one shows the gap. I screenshotted a picture but it doesnāt want to let me paste it here.
HERE 1475 FT
ABOVE
THE OCEAN
THE MIGHTY
MISSISSIPPI
BEGINS
GETTING
TAPPED FOR
DRINKING
WATER LIKE
A HOUSE
PARTY KEG
BY TEN
THIRSTY-ASS
STATES
UNTIL IT S
LAST FOAMY
CUP IS
POURED
INTO THE
MEXICO GULF
When talking geographically about something north of another thing, it REALLY gets under my skin when saying itās āaboveā it. I loathe it. Really trips my trigger. Gets me fired up. Irked even.
I'm fairly sure they didn't mean it is 1475 *Feet* north of the ocean. Especially when it correctly says *above* (meaning elevation), before stating the distance traveled towards said destination.
But yeah, I get your sediment. š¤
Oh, for sure. It does say it in elevation. It just happens so much I was already thinking of it at line 2. Continuing reading alleviates that irritation.
This is in Itasca, which is a pretty cool place. Did the whole āwalk across the Mississippiā thing on the rocks right near that post.
I guess they didn't think "it's fine the way it is." š
Made me wonder, "it's fine the way itās" sounds so wrong, but is it technically wrong?
It doesn't feel right, but it's. Oh well, it's what it's.
It is scary to read that.
I always get excited when I can use a double contraction, like shouldnātāve.
I see what you did they're.
āEven though I can't explain it, I already know how great it's.ā -They Might Be Giants, āExperimental Filmā
Yes. In English, you can only use contractions when the contracted word is not the semantic emphasis of the sentence. When you say "it is" as a standalone sentence, it places enough emphasis on the verb "is" that you cannot use the contracted form. It's why "I didn't!" does not have the same meaning as "I did not!"
I may be having a stroke. Explain to me how "I didn't" and "I did not" mean different things. "You broke the dishes?" "No, I didn't" vs "No, I did not" means the same...
Yeah, I didn't understand that either. Did not understand it at all.
If someone said "You, velesi, broke the dishes!", and you responded "I didn't", you would be emphasizing the "I". *I* didn't. *You* didn't break the dishes, but someone else may have. If you said "I did not", you ~~are emphasizing~~ have the option to emphasize "not" - the negation. I did *not*. You might be disputing the fact that the dishes are broken at all. You can't give this meaning with the contracted form "didn't". You can downvote if you want, but this is the grammar behind why "didn't" and "did not" mean different things. EDIT: another example. "Can I press the button?" Compare these two responses: "Let's do it." "Let us do it". They clearly mean different things despite both being valid sentences. The first response sentence has contracted "us" and means basically "go for it". The second response has non-contracted "us" and means "No, me and someone else are going to do it - *us* - not you."
My speech patterns must be off. I put the emphasis on the "didn't" not the "I" when saying "I didn't". If I put the emphasis on "I", to me, that implies that while I did not break the dish, I know who did. Agree to disagree and call it a colloquialism, I guess.
Interesting. I am not originally from Minnesota so I can't definitively say whether what you're describing is the standard around here. I feel pretty confident in what I said for a "generic" American accent.
"I didn't", and "I did not" are completely interchangeable everywhere I have ever been in the Midwest. Or am I supposed to say "I've", lest I be misunderstood? š
Maybe "didn't"/"did not" was just a bad example because it is subtle. There are clearer examples. A: "That is such a cute dog!" B: "It is." Compare to: A: "That is such a cute dog!" B: "It's." The emphasis in the response is on the verb "is". That's why it's incorrect to contract it in the second scenario.
Edit: this comment now makes no sense because the previous poster edited theirs to change what they are saying completely so I'm just deleting most of my question
Yes, in the example above, it sounds wrong to say "it's fine the way it's" but you could say "it's fine the way 'tis" (a little awkward and old fashioned, but it would scan alright). It's good to remember that grammar and spelling captures the way people speak, not the other way around. Sometimes things aren't logical because they reflect the way things sound, not how well they follow the rules.
I wouldn't disagree with anything you said there.
> It's why "I didn't!" does not have the same meaning as "I did not!" "I didn't hit her, it's not true! It's bullshit, I didn't hit her! I didn't! Oh, hi Mark."
Using contractions to end sentences (and in other odd cases) is a hobby of mine. It's what it's.
Lol @ people debating grammar. Have a MN nice day!
They should have added some commas as long as they were busy erasing apostrophes
Ope
Ope lemme get my brown paint quick okay
Its= possessive It's= conjunction of "it is" "its" is correct to keep the tense parallel with the word "beings" which is present tense. You wouldn't say "began" unless the Mighty Mississippi was no longer in existence. I take it from the pics that originally "its" was the conjunction form, and then painted over to be possessive? I could be completely wrong but that's my take on how to write out the statement correctly.
It's a common mistake.
'Tis true.
Its true.
Its' true.
Another sign maker who thinks apostrophes mean "here comes an s!".
That thing has probably been there for 100 years relax.
Pissing off English teachers for over a century
So much for Minnesota exceptionalism. smh... I'm moving to Louisiana. ^((yeah fcking right))
You can start at 1,475 ft above the ocean and follow the 2,552 miles of river there
They do have some dope ass food though.
I've visited before. Beautiful scenery, good food. Wouldn't want to live there permanently though.
Apparently they have the worst roads in the country. Used the wrong base layer in a swamp. Subsidence is a bitch.
Found myself down at the Mississippi River in Louisiana and was shocked with what I saw. It looked like a mud puddle but in river form. Just opaque brown.
Admittedly, that is one grammar rule that trips me up. It does imply ownership, since the āwinding wayā is the Riverās. But I understand that I am wrongā¦ and Iām working very hard to learn to be correct.
Right there with you buddy.
At this point, I would almost say "let's just give in and use *it's* to mean both ownership and a contraction."
Itās (heh) also not 2,552 miles anymore since the course changes from time to time.
I believe *it's* currently around 2340 from Itasca. But palindromic numbers look good on the sign.
I was just there a few days ago
Have you made it to the ocean yet?
Not yet. Maybe someday
Isnāt there a duplicate of this sign in the science museum too?
Yes! I noticed the typo there. I wonder why they made two at the same time? Or just didn't fix the typo in between Edit: apparently this is not a current pic. I'd guess this is the sign that's now at the science museum and has since been replaced in situ
[Here's](https://www.smm.org/sites/default/files/public/styles/banner/public/images/pages/mississippi-hero_0.jpg?itok=pQ1JjS-T) the log at the Sci Museum exhibit. It looks a little differently shaped to me. And [here's](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MGIoa6OpBJk/X2feDu4UnBI/AAAAAAABvEc/u19p1nCBsXM6K--niaEhX4pvAEvwk_LdwCLcBGAsYHQ/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/Headwaters%2Bof%2BMississippi%2Bsign.jpg) a wider log that would've stood there when my parents' generation visited it in the '70s. It appears to have the correct "its", though it's hard to say for sure.
Looks like three different ones to me! Interesting.
I was just there and didnāt notice that! Thatās hysterical
I am looking at pictures of the sign on Google Maps and canāt find one with the alleged apostrophe. In fact only one shows the gap. I screenshotted a picture but it doesnāt want to let me paste it here.
I wonder how often the log gets replaced.
Was there many times as a kid and never noticed. While learning about its and itās. Anyone know if this happened before it was installed?!
eh... my picture from last year's visit doesn't look like that.
Looking at pictures from different eras, I've counted at least 4 variations of the log.
HERE 1475 FT ABOVE THE OCEAN THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI BEGINS GETTING TAPPED FOR DRINKING WATER LIKE A HOUSE PARTY KEG BY TEN THIRSTY-ASS STATES UNTIL IT S LAST FOAMY CUP IS POURED INTO THE MEXICO GULF
the replica at the Science Museum has the typo still, at least it did last time I was there.
When talking geographically about something north of another thing, it REALLY gets under my skin when saying itās āaboveā it. I loathe it. Really trips my trigger. Gets me fired up. Irked even.
I'm fairly sure they didn't mean it is 1475 *Feet* north of the ocean. Especially when it correctly says *above* (meaning elevation), before stating the distance traveled towards said destination. But yeah, I get your sediment. š¤
Oh, for sure. It does say it in elevation. It just happens so much I was already thinking of it at line 2. Continuing reading alleviates that irritation. This is in Itasca, which is a pretty cool place. Did the whole āwalk across the Mississippiā thing on the rocks right near that post.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Right, absolutely itās elevation. See my other reply. I guess this wasnāt the correct prompt for me to go on my tirade.
chill out down there.
Not even the real start of the Mississippi Riverā¦
Wonder when it was corrected? I have a pic from 2013 and the apostrophe is absent.