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Chrissy1313 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Not to waste or to not waste?
My friend asked me a question about these sentences. "I took a taxi not to waste time." "I took a taxi to not waste time."
Now, are both correct? I felt as if the first sentence seemed okay, but there was still something awkward about it as if it was an open-ended sentence that should have a second part to it. Such as, "I took a taxi not to waste time, but to..."
Please help me! Thank you!
Now, are both correct? I felt as if the first sentence seemed okay, but there was still something awkward about it as if it was an open-ended sentence that should have a second part to it. Such as, "I took a taxi not to waste time, but to..."
Please help me! Thank you!
Top answer
To form the negative infinitive, place not before the to Correct : I took a taxi not to waste time. Incorrect : I took a taxi to not waste time.
- To form the negative infinitive, place not before the to Correct : I took a taxi not to waste time.
- Incorrect : I took a taxi to not waste time.
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4 Answers
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To form the negative infinitive, place not before the to
Correct: I took a taxi not to waste time.
Incorrect: I took a taxi to not waste time.
Correct: I took a taxi not to waste time.
Incorrect: I took a taxi to not waste time.
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Oh wow. I had no idea! I thought "I took a taxi to not waste time" was correct. I guess I learned something today! Thank you!
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Chrissy1313"I took a taxi not to waste time." "I took a taxi to not waste time."Both are wrong. These are closer to what native English speakers say:
I took a taxi to save time.
I took a taxi because it was faster.
I took a taxi so as not to waste time.
CJ
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Not to waste or to not waste which one is correct?
Please help me
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