"did i not" vs "did not i"

Question

"did i not" vs "did not i"

Both "did I not" and "did not I" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Did I not" is the more common and natural way to form a question in English. On the other hand, "did not I" is a less common and somewhat formal or poetic way of phrasing a question.

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

This phrase is a common way to form a question in English, where the subject (I) comes after the auxiliary verb (did) and the negation (not) follows the subject.

Examples:

Did I not tell you about the meeting?
Did I not make myself clear?
Did I not see you at the party?
Did I not ask for your help?
Did I not understand the instructions correctly?

Alternatives:

Didn't I
Did I fail to
Did I overlook
Did I forget to
Did I neglect to

This phrase is a less common way to form a question in English. It may be used in more formal or poetic contexts.

Examples:

Did not I warn you about the dangers?
Did not I see the truth before anyone else?
Did not I hear the call of the wild?
Did not I dream of a better future?
Did not I understand the consequences?

Alternatives:

Did I not
Did I fail to
Did I overlook
Did I forget to
Did I neglect to

Answer 1

did i not

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

did not i

This phrase is correct but less common in everyday English.

"did i not" vs "did not i"

did i not

did not i

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