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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > would like + Infinitive
would like + Infinitive
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Reale
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would like + Infinitive
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HI, Please tell me if the negative sentences using like+ing & would like+infinitive grammatically correct. the exercise: (not have children) I don �t like not having children. I wouldn �t like not to have children. My student doubts their validity. Thanks
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23 Nov 2013
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annelaure
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they �re both correct but they don �t mean the same thing... the first one with like+ing is about something happening now, that person regrets not having children basically; the other one with would is about a future situation. I mean that �s how I see it. :) |
23 Nov 2013
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cunliffe
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�I don �t like not having children � is fine. �I wouldn �t like not to have children � is unnatural-sounding. (As annelaure points out, they mean different things).
�I wouldn �t like not having children � sounds better. The reason? Mmmm... maybe because �having � is describing a state? |
23 Nov 2013
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katpak
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I think your student �s doubts are valid. In Standard English double negation is considered incorrect. In speech/slang/common use though the sentences would be considered ok.
http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/31667/are-double-negatives-ever-appropriate-in-english
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23 Nov 2013
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cunliffe
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However, the negatives in those sentences don�t cancel each other out. The double negative rule does not apply here, after �I don�t like� because you can dislike a negative, e.g. �I don�t like having no moustache.� �I don�t like not being top of the class.� |
24 Nov 2013
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Reale
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Thank you for your answers.
Is it correct to use an infinitive in place of an -ing form as in: I wouldn �t like not to have a moustache. I wouldn �t like not to be top of the class.
They sound clumsy but are they incorrect? |
24 Nov 2013
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cunliffe
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Hi Reale, I hope someone will answer you. As a native, I know what sounds right, but I don �t know �the rules �. If someone said it, I wouldn �t say it was incorrect... No Bruce/Les/Sophia/MoodyMoody/Almaz/etAlia around to advise here? Have they got non-eslprinables lives to lead, or something?  |
24 Nov 2013
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