0
Smart Humanism Posted 5 years ago
Grammar

Be + not word-order cases

This question might feel terrible and weird to you.

But I cannot resist asking this question covering the word order of "be + not" after 'to' or modal verbs like 'must', 'might'.


I have been taught that if you want to negate expressions you need to place 'not' in the way of the below examples.


1. That dog must be aggressive. -> That dog must not be aggressive.

2. After all, she might be a great student. -> After all, she might not be a great student.

3. a professor to be the first to explore that realm. -> a professor not to be the first to explore the realm


Nevertheless, really, are there no cases at all where they are used with the order of the below?


4. That dog must be not aggressive.

5. After all, she might be a not great student. / After all, she might be not a great student.

6. a professor to be not the first to explore the realm


Somehow, I get to feel some of the 4, 5, 6 expressions can be used with a bit of difference in nuance from the original ones.

  

Top answer

Smart Humanism 1. That dog must not be aggressive. 4.

— GPY

  • Smart Humanism 1.
  • That dog must not be aggressive.
  • 4.
  • That dog must be not aggressive.
  • These sentences are potentially ambiguous, either expressing an instruction or order, or expressing speaker's belief.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
Smart Humanism 1. That dog must not be aggressive.
4. That dog must be not aggressive.

These sentences are potentially ambiguous, either expressing an instruction or order, or expressing speaker's belief. To me, (4) seems more likely to express speaker's belief, while (1) could mean either. (4) seems a bit awkward though.

The pattern of (4) works

0

Related Questions