Am I not right?

[AG31]

This morning I said something that I wanted to hear my husband agree with. I was soliciting his agreement. I said "Am I not right?" If I was unsure and wanted his opinion about what I'd said, I would have phrased it, "Am I right?" So what's going on in "Am I not right?" On reflection I can't make any sense out of it at all. Can any of you explain?

 

[Thirsty_Hellcat_J]

The questions are the same and invite a response whether they have the "not" in the middle or not.

So whatever response you expect from one question, you should expect from the other.

 

[AG31]

I think your ear for ordinary language needs a little fine tuning.

 

[InterestedBlonde]

I think your ear for ordinary language needs a little fine tuning.

No, you are not right.

 

[Thirsty_Hellcat_J]

I think your ear for ordinary language needs a little fine tuning.

Asks the question and then doesn't like the answer. I'm out, lol.

 

[Gremzin3]

“Am I not right,” seeks confirmation, but may also provoke criticism and start an argument based on the “not” qualifier. “Am I right,” is more of a neutral, open-ended question.
Just my 2 cents, of course. Other people’s perspectives are likely to be different.

 

[AG31]

“Am I not right,” seeks confirmation, but may also provoke criticism and start an argument based on the “not” qualifier. “Am I right,” is more of a neutral, open-ended question.
Just my 2 cents, of course. Other people’s perspectives are likely to be different.

If "not" applies simply to "right," then the two are grammatically the same, but common usage distinguishes them the way you describe. In my ear, though, the "not" somehow applies to "I". But I can't make any grammatical sense of it.

 

[mark_j]

As best as I can figure this:

Am I not right - Implies a challenge

Am I right - do you agree with my premise

Difference is subtle depending on how you read it..

 

[AG31]

As best as I can figure this:

Am I not right - Implies a challenge

Am I right - do you agree with my premise

Difference is subtle depending on how you read it..

Yes, it's true.

 

[Gremzin3]

As best as I can figure this:

Am I not right - Implies a challenge

Am I right - do you agree with my premise

Difference is subtle depending on how you read it..

A lot actually depends on the tone of voice used for each question — something that can’t be conveyed easily in text/print.

 

[mark_j]

A lot actually depends on the tone of voice used for each question — something that can’t be conveyed easily in text/print.

It's like writing sarcasm... Easy to do, difficult to convey in print.

 

[Baseballcoach43]

This morning I said something that I wanted to hear my husband agree with. I was soliciting his agreement. I said "Am I not right?" If I was unsure and wanted his opinion about what I'd said, I would have phrased it, "Am I right?" So what's going on in "Am I not right?" On reflection I can't make any sense out of it at all. Can any of you explain?

Questions like these are probably why I'm divorced

 

[Sunnbeams]

This morning I said something that I wanted to hear my husband agree with. I was soliciting his agreement. I said "Am I not right?" If I was unsure and wanted his opinion about what I'd said, I would have phrased it, "Am I right?" So what's going on in "Am I not right?" On reflection I can't make any sense out of it at all. Can any of you explain?

To me it makes it sound more like you're giving him the chance to say if you're right or not. If I wanted someone to agree with me I probably would have just said "right?" or "don't you agree?"