Not lock

She said not to lock the doors.

'she said to lock the doors' so the negative is '...not to lock...'

It can be said, but I will correct you if you say it.
I will tell you not to use to not, but to use not to instead.

She said not to lock the doors.

Not everyone is so bothered by to not.

CJ

"CalifJim"]Not everyone is so bothered by to not.

Yes. I suspect the "I seen..." and "I had went..." crowd would be a large part of those who wouldn't be bovered.

TerryxpressYes. I suspect the "I seen..." and "I had went..." crowd would be a large part of those who wouldn't be bovered.

If everybody does it, it doesn't mean it's a proper thing.

Fandorin If everybody does it, it doesn't mean it's a proper thing.

Actually, if you wait long enough, it does mean that!

TerryxpressShe said not to lock the doors.

Does it not sound like there's something missing in the sentence above? I feel it stands alone as a single sentence. She said to whom?

How about: She told him/her not to lock the doors.

Because otherwise I could hear something like this:

She is said not to lock the do

CJ, I know the split infinitive is an anathema to you, so I must say, I thought of you when I read this the other day:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/150458.stm

johner

TerryxpressShe said not to lock the doors.

Does it not sound like there's something missing in the sentence above? I feel it stands alone as a single sentence. She said to whom?

How about: She told him/her not to lock the doors.

Because otherwise I could hear something like this:

She is said not to lo

Hi Grammar Geek,

I had some concerns about the subject (if it was passive, or active as I understood) and I only wanted to confirm to one of you. I'm sure now, thanks.

"Oxford University Press says the rule of not splitting infinitives is based on a fallacy."

I wonder who paid them off (and how much) to say that.

CJ