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#2 (permalink) Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:17 am Construction |
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Hi Rosalisa,
Your two sentences:
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I want you not to do that. i want you to not do that. |
sound very strange to me and also very clumsy. Technically they could just about be passed as acceptable since the meaning can be construed. Having said that I would suggest something much simpler:
I don't want you to do that.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13890 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:04 pm Not (I want you not to do [to not do] that) |
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Thank you, Alan. So they are acceptable but sound very strange. I wanted to know if "not" can be used in those two ways... :D
Thanks. :D _________________ If you want to change the world, be one of the change. |
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Rosalisa I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 314 Location: Cambodia
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#4 (permalink) Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:26 pm Not (I want you not to do [to not do] that) |
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Hi Rosalisa
You could look at your two sentences this way:
The usage would not be "acceptable" or natural in the vast majority of situations.
However, in a very specific context where you need/want to put heavy stress on the word not (a correction or a contradiction possibly), then such sentences might be used.
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#5 (permalink) Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:39 am To be or not to be :) |
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Hi
Just to make certain:
how not to <verb> hope to not be ... etc.
are in usage ? _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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#6 (permalink) Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:46 am Hope |
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Hi Tamara,
Well yes you could just about say: We hope to not be late but it sounds wacky to me.
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13890 Location: UK
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#7 (permalink) Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:50 am Bee ot not-too-bee :) |
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'bee or not-too-bee' :)
Thanks Alan. Good morning to all! :) _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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| Difference between Aims and Objectives | At high temperature(s) and pressure(s)? |