Not (I want you not to do [to not do] that)

Hi teachers, :smiley:

I want you not to do that.
i want you to not do that.

Are these two sentences correct? If so, do they mean the same? If not, could you please explain why?

Thanks.
Rosalisa

Hi Rosalisa,

Your two sentences:

sound very strange to me and also very clumsy. Technically they could just about be passed as acceptable since the meaning can be construed. Having said that I would suggest something much simpler:

I don’t want you to do that.

Alan

Thank you, Alan. So they are acceptable but sound very strange. I wanted to know if “not” can be used in those two ways… :smiley:

Thanks. :smiley:

Hi Rosalisa

You could look at your two sentences this way:

The usage would not be “acceptable” or natural in the vast majority of situations.

However, in a very specific context where you need/want to put heavy stress on the word not (a correction or a contradiction possibly), then such sentences might be used.

Amy

Hi

Just to make certain:

how not to <verb>
hope to not be …
etc.

are in usage
?

Hi Tamara,

Well yes you could just about say: We hope to not be late but it sounds wacky to me.

Alan

‘bee or not-too-bee’ :slight_smile:

Thanks Alan.
Good morning to all! :slight_smile: