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Navitasan Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

How did he not

Can one say:
1-How didn't he fall into the trap they had set for him?
instead of:
2-How did he not fall into the trap they had set for him?
Meaning: How did he manage not to fall into the trap they had set for him?

Can one say:
3-How didn't he lose that match?
instead of:
4-How did he not lose that match?

Meaning: How did he manage not to lose that match?

Gratefully,
Navi.
  

Top answer

Both of those substitutions are possible. Yes. However, since the questions show surprise about the negation of a premise, the not seems better if not absorbed into a contraction as n't .

  • Both of those substitutions are possible.
  • Yes.
  • However, since the questions show surprise about the negation of a premise, the not seems better if not absorbed into a contraction as n't .
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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Both of those substitutions are possible. Yes.

However, since the questions show surprise about the negation of a premise, the not seems better if not absorbed into a contraction as n't.

CJ

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