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Hanuman_2000 Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Negative

Sir,

1.I prefer not to speak him.

2.It is better not to buy new car.

I am a bit confused with these sentences. As this these are negative sentences but without any helping verb.

What type of constructions are these?

Please expain it to me.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

"not" is an adverb, and it's modifying the infinitive verbs "to speak (to him)" and "to buy (a new car), both of which function as the object of "prefer" and "better", respectively. I do not [prefer to wait]. I prefer [not to wait].

— Casi

  • "not" is an adverb, and it's modifying the infinitive verbs "to speak (to him)" and "to buy (a new car), both of which function as the object of "prefer" and "better", respectively.
  • I do not [prefer to wait].
  • I prefer [not to wait].
  • It is better [not to buy a car].
  • => [Not to buy a car] is better.
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1 Answers
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"not" is an adverb, and it's modifying the infinitive verbs "to speak (to him)" and "to buy (a new car), both of which function as the object of "prefer" and "better", respectively.

I do not [prefer to wait].
I prefer [not to wait].

It is better [not to buy a car]. => [Not to buy a car] is better.
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