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JUNHEE LEE Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

can you not get it dirty?

My daughter didn't want to change her new dress before meal.

Then I said " Can you not get the dress dirty?"

Does it make sense?

Or I should say " Can you be careful not to get the dress dirty?"

Please, help me Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

" It's very awkward. This is natural: Can you keep your dress clean (while you are eating)? " Yes.

  • " It's very awkward.
  • This is natural: Can you keep your dress clean (while you are eating)?
  • " Yes.
  • That's fine.
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4 Answers
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JUNHEE LEEThen I said " Can you not get the dress dirty?"
It's very awkward. This is natural:

Can you keep your dress clean (while you are eating)?
JUNHEE LEEOr I should say " Can you be careful not to get the dress dirty?"
Yes. That's fine.
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Thank you so much.
But when we say " can you not do that?"
I thought it can mean" stop doing that."

A little confused...
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JUNHEE LEEThank you so much.But when we say " can you not do that?"I thought it can mean" stop doing that."A little confused...
That's true.
Someone is tapping the table with their pen, for example.

"Excuse me. Could you NOT do that, please?!" - it will sound like you are irritated. You probably are.
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JUNHEE LEEMy daughter didn't want to change her new dress before meal.
My daughter didn't want to change her new dress before a meal.

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