Why not you're?

[Margaret]

There is probably a simple answer to this, but I can't see it.

In a class on 'compliments' a student wrote 'How beautiful you're tonight'

I corrected it to 'How beautiful you are tonight', but I can't think why he's wrong and it's driving me mad. Also, I promised I'd get back to him.

Please help

[Syl]

In your sentence, the verb "to be" is a linking verb (a linking verb connects a subject to a subject complement which identifies or describes the subject).

If the linking verb is also an auxiliary (like the verb "to be") it will never be contracted when it comes at the beginning or end of a clause.

In your sentence, the word "tonight" is not the complement of the verb to be, you could also say: "How beautiful you are!" thus, it can't be contracted.



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[Margaret]

My hero/heroine

[yeknom]

hey
but Syl .. themm

How beautiful you're tonight' is well spell, right?

[Syl]

Well, the spelling is okay, but we just don't say it because it is wrong :wink:

(Margaret, heroine LOL :D )


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