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Yzh1978 Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

To not ; Not to

I said a lot not to let him go home.
I said a lot to not let him go home.

Is the second one right? I often see this structure on the internet.
Do the two structures mean the same?
Thank you!
  

Top answer

com/questions/23152/order-of-not-with-infinitive Essentially, they are both acceptable, but "not to + base verb" is considerably more common (especially in the UK) and considered to be better style in both US and UK English. Perhaps a US teacher could confirm. "to + not + base verb" is considered more informal and some people may consider it wrong (perhaps unfairly so) and so the other option is safer.

— Michael Chambers Teaching English

  • com/questions/23152/order-of-not-with-infinitive Essentially, they are both acceptable, but "not to + base verb" is considerably more common (especially in the UK) and considered to be better style in both US and UK English.
  • Perhaps a US teacher could confirm.
  • "to + not + base verb" is considered more informal and some people may consider it wrong (perhaps unfairly so) and so the other option is safer.
  • g.
  • I tried hard not to hurt her feelings.
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3 Answers
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There is a good answer here : http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/23152/order-of-not-with-infinitive

Essentially, they are both acceptable, but "not to + base verb" is considerably more common (especially in the UK) and considered to be better style in both US
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Michael Chambers Teaching English"to + not + base verb" is considered more informal and some people may consider it wrong (perhaps unfairly so) and so the other option is safer.
It's common in US English.
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yzh1978Is the second one right? I often see this structure on the internet.Do the two structures mean the same?Thank you!
I said a lot to not let him go home.
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