aren't
Contraction negating existence
Aren't is the contraction of are not: They aren't coming.
It also serves as the standard contraction for am not in questions: I'm invited, aren't I?
This usage fills a gap—"amn't I" is awkward and "ain't I" carries stigma, so aren't I became the accepted form despite the grammatical mismatch.
contraction
Denies being
- abbreviatedMade shorter, typically words
- apostropheMark showing ownership
- shorthandAbbreviated writing system
- spokenExpressed in words aloud
colloquial · conversational · informal · elision · reduction · don't · won't · can't
is not
Denies being
- abbreviatedMade shorter, typically words
- apostropheMark showing ownership
- shorthandAbbreviated writing system
spoken · colloquial · conversational · informal · elision · reduction · don't · won't · can't · shouldn't
denial
Refusal to accept reality
- refusalAct of declining
- rejectionDenial of acceptance
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
disagreement · dissent · not · no · negative · opposite · untrue · false · incorrect · wrong
question
Request for information
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- rhetoricalUsing language for effect
- verifyConfirm accuracy or truth