To-not बनाम Not-to: क्या अंतर है?
not to फॉर्मल है और to not मॉडर्न और बोलचाल वाला। दोनों ही सही हैं। Formal, Modern, Correct.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'not to' for formal writing and 'to not' for emphasis or to avoid sounding like a robot.
- Standard: Put 'not' before 'to' for most situations. Example: 'I decided not to go.'
- Emphasis: Put 'not' after 'to' to stress the negative action. Example: 'I want you to NOT touch that.'
- Clarity: Use 'to not' if 'not to' makes the sentence sound confusing or awkward.
Overview
- 1Unsplit Infinitive (not to + verb): यहाँ 'not' पूरे infinitive phrase को negate करता है। यह एक neutral और objective तरीका है। उदाहरण:
He decided not to eat.यहाँ 'not to eat' एक block की तरह है। यह किसी भी formal writing या office email के लिए बेस्ट है।
- 1Split Infinitive (to not + verb): यहाँ 'not' सीधे verb के बगल में बैठता है। इससे negation ज़्यादा 'pointed' और 'deliberate' लगता है। जैसे:
I am trying to not worry.यहाँ आप 'worry' करने की क्रिया पर ज़ोर दे रहे हैं कि आप इसे जानबूझकर रोकने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं।
It is important not to be late. |I am trying to not be late. |The batsman decided not to play that shot. (Standard). लेकिन अगर कोई खिलाड़ी अपनी गलती सुधारने की बात कर रहा है, तो वह कहेगा: I am trying to not play that shot again. (Split, emphasis के साथ)।- Formal Writing/Business: हमेशा
not toका इस्तेमाल करें। यह सुरक्षित है और पेशेवर लगता है। जैसे:The company agreed not to reduce the salary. - Personal Emphasis: अगर आप अपनी मेहनत या conscious decision दिखाना चाहते हैं, तो
to notका प्रयोग करें। जैसे:I am determined to not fail this time. - Clarity: कभी-कभी
to notसे बात ज़्यादा साफ़ हो जाती है। जैसे:The goal is to not just participate, but to win.यहाँ 'not' को 'just' के पास रखने से मतलब साफ़ हो गया है।
to not हमें सुनने में ज़्यादा स्वाभाविक (natural) लगता है। लेकिन formal situations में not to का ही प्रयोग करें।- 1Auxiliary verb का गलत इस्तेमाल: कई लोग कहते हैं
*I decided to don't go.यह गलत है क्योंकि 'to' के साथ 'do/does/did' नहीं आता। सही है:I decided not to go. - 2Negation का गलत स्थान: हिंदी में हम कहते हैं 'मैंने उसे न जाने को कहा'। कभी-कभी लोग 'not' को verb के बाद लगा देते हैं, जैसे
*I told him to go not.यह गलत है। 'Not' हमेशा verb से पहले आएगा:I told him not to go. - 3Over-correction: कई students को लगता है कि
to notगलत है और वे हर जगहnot toका जबरदस्ती इस्तेमाल करते हैं। याद रखें,to notगलत नहीं है, बस इसका इस्तेमाल सही जगह होना चाहिए।
not to + verb | to not + verb |- 1Q: क्या
to notव्याकरण की दृष्टि से गलत है?
- 1Q: क्या मुझे परीक्षा में
to notका इस्तेमाल करना चाहिए?
not to का ही प्रयोग करें ताकि आप सुरक्षित रहें।- 1Q: क्या इसका Hindi के 'न' या 'नहीं' से कोई सीधा संबंध है?
- 1Q: क्या मैं
not toऔरto notको interchangeably इस्तेमाल कर सकता हूँ?
Negating the Infinitive
| Type | Structure | Example | Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Standard
|
Not + to + verb
|
I decided not to go.
|
Formal/Neutral
|
|
Split (Emphatic)
|
To + not + verb
|
I decided to not go.
|
Informal/Strong
|
|
With Adverb
|
To + adverb + not + verb
|
I try to really not care.
|
Very Informal
|
|
Perfect Infinitive
|
Not + to + have + past participle
|
I'm sorry not to have called.
|
Formal
|
|
Passive Infinitive
|
Not + to + be + past participle
|
He asked not to be disturbed.
|
Neutral
|
Meanings
The placement of the negative particle 'not' in relation to an infinitive verb (to + base form).
Standard Negation
The traditional way to negate an infinitive by placing 'not' before the entire infinitive phrase.
“I prefer not to say.”
“He was told not to enter.”
Emphatic Split
Placing 'not' between 'to' and the verb to strongly emphasize the negative state.
“It's important to not fail.”
“I need you to not scream.”
Ambiguity Avoidance
Using 'to not' to ensure the 'not' applies only to the infinitive and not the preceding verb.
“He agreed to not go (He agreed to stay).”
“He didn't agree to go (He refused).”
Reference Table
| फॉर्म (Form) | स्टाइल (Style) | उदाहरण (Example Sentence) |
|---|---|---|
|
`not to + verb`
|
फॉर्मल, पारंपरिक
|
The board decided not to approve the budget.
|
|
`to not + verb`
|
कैज़ुअल, मॉडर्न
|
I'm really trying to not eat cake before dinner.
|
|
`not to + verb`
|
फॉर्मल, प्रोफेशनल
|
You are advised not to enter the restricted area.
|
|
`to not + verb`
|
अनौपचारिक, बातचीत
|
He promised his friends to not be late for the game.
|
|
`not to + verb`
|
विनम्र अनुरोध
|
Please try not to make too much noise.
|
|
`to not + verb`
|
जोर देने के लिए
|
She made a point to not interrupt the speaker.
|
|
`not to + verb`
|
सामान्य सिद्धांत
|
The aim of the game is not to lose.
|
|
`to not + verb`
|
व्यक्तिगत लक्ष्य
|
My resolution is to not worry about things I can't control.
|
औपचारिकता का स्तर
I decided not to comment on the matter. (Legal/Social)
I decided not to say anything. (Legal/Social)
I decided to not say a word. (Legal/Social)
I chose to just not. (Legal/Social)
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
I try not to be late.
Trato de no llegar tarde.
Please tell him not to go.
Por favor, dile que no vaya.
It is good not to smoke.
Es bueno no fumar.
I want not to eat meat.
Quiero no comer carne.
We decided not to buy the car.
Decidimos no comprar el coche.
She promised not to tell anyone.
Ella prometió no decírselo a nadie.
Try not to make a noise.
Intenta no hacer ruido.
It's hard not to like him.
Es difícil que no te caiga bien.
I'd prefer to not discuss this right now.
Preferiría no discutir esto ahora mismo.
He was careful not to wake the baby.
Tuvo cuidado de no despertar al bebé.
It is important to not overthink the problem.
Es importante no pensar demasiado en el problema.
They agreed not to sign the contract yet.
Acordaron no firmar el contrato todavía.
The challenge is to not lose focus during the exam.
El desafío es no perder la concentración durante el examen.
He was advised not to respond to the provocative comments.
Se le aconsejó no responder a los comentarios provocativos.
To not have invited her would have been rude.
No haberla invitado habría sido grosero.
She struggled not to show her disappointment.
Luchó por no mostrar su decepción.
The goal of the policy is to not only reduce costs but also improve quality.
El objetivo de la política es no solo reducir costos sino también mejorar la calidad.
One must learn to not be swayed by public opinion.
Uno debe aprender a no dejarse influir por la opinión pública.
He chose to not explicitly deny the allegations.
Eligió no negar explícitamente las acusaciones.
The directive was to not under any circumstances open the vault.
La directiva era no abrir la bóveda bajo ninguna circunstancia.
To not so much as acknowledge his presence was a calculated insult.
Ni siquiera reconocer su presencia fue un insulto calculado.
The actor's ability to not overplay the role was praised by critics.
La capacidad del actor para no sobreactuar el papel fue elogiada por la crítica.
In his quest to not be forgotten, he built monuments across the city.
En su búsqueda por no ser olvidado, construyó monumentos por toda la ciudad.
The difficulty lies in learning to not merely survive, but thrive.
La dificultad radica en aprender a no simplemente sobrevivir, sino a prosperar.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
Learners use 'don't' for both.
Negating these changes the meaning drastically.
The position of 'not' changes whether you forgot the action or remembered to avoid it.
सामान्य गलतियाँ
I want to no go.
I want not to go.
He said me not go.
He told me not to go.
I try to don't cry.
I try not to cry.
Not go is bad.
Not to go is bad.
I decided to not.
I decided not to.
She told me to not eat.
She told me not to eat.
It's important no to forget.
It's important not to forget.
I remembered to not call.
I remembered not to call.
He asked me to not be late.
He asked me not to be late.
I prefer to not.
I prefer not to.
To not really have tried is a shame.
Not to have really tried is a shame.
वाक्य संरचनाएँ
It is important not to ___.
I've decided to not ___ anymore.
She was warned not to ___.
The best way to not ___ is to ___.
Real World Usage
I try not to let stress affect my performance.
Try to not be late pls!
The party agrees not to disclose confidential information.
How to not care what people think.
Try not to move your arm.
Be careful to not overcook the pasta.
जब समझ न आए, तो 'not to' चुनो
The board decided not to approve the budget.
'ग्रामर पुलिस' से सावधान
You are advised not to enter the restricted area.
जोर देने के लिए 'Split' करो
She made a point to not interrupt the speaker.
मॉडर्न इंग्लिश को अपनाओ
Smart Tips
Always place 'not' before 'to'. It makes you sound more educated and respectful of traditional grammar.
Split the infinitive and put extra stress on the word 'NOT'.
Don't be afraid to split it. Clarity is more important than old rules.
Treat 'never' just like 'not'. 'Never to' is formal; 'to never' is emphatic.
उच्चारण
Emphasis on 'Not'
In 'to not', the word 'not' is usually stressed and has a higher pitch.
Schwa in 'To'
In 'not to', the 'to' is often reduced to a schwa /tə/.
Emphatic Split
I need you to ↗NOT↘ do that.
Strong warning or correction.
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
Put 'Not' before 'To' to be a pro. Put 'Not' in the middle to solve the riddle (of emphasis).
दृश्य संबंध
Imagine a 'No Entry' sign standing right in front of a door labeled 'TO'. That's 'Not To'. Now imagine the sign is inside the room. That's 'To Not'.
Rhyme
If you want to be polite, 'not to' is usually right.
Story
A student named Tim always tried 'not to' fail his exams. But one day, his teacher said, 'Tim, I need you to NOT fail this time!' The teacher split the infinitive because the situation was urgent.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Write three things you are trying 'not to' do this week, and one thing you are determined 'to NOT' do ever again.
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
Traditionally more resistant to split infinitives in formal education, though this is changing.
More flexible with 'to not' in journalism and media to sound more direct.
Some old-fashioned professors still consider 'to not' a mistake. When in doubt, use 'not to'.
The 'rule' against splitting infinitives was popularized by Henry Alford and other 19th-century grammarians who idolized Latin.
बातचीत की शुरुआत
What is one thing you try not to do on the weekend?
If you could choose to not have one chore, what would it be?
Have you ever been told not to do something, but you did it anyway?
In your opinion, is it better to not know the future?
डायरी विषय
सामान्य गलतियाँ
Test Yourself
She advised him ___ be late for the interview.
not to + verb है। यह सलाह देने का एक फॉर्मल तरीका है।सही वाक्य चुनें:
to not eat कहना बहुत ही आम और नेचुरल तरीका है।Find and fix the mistake:
They decided to go not to the party.
not या तो 'to' से पहले आना चाहिए (not to go) या 'to' और वर्ब के बीच में (to not go)।Score: /3
अभ्यास प्रश्न
8 exercisesHe decided ___ the job.
Find and fix the mistake:
I try to don't eat sugar.
I need you to ___ (not / forget) the milk!
Don't be late. (He told me...)
'To not know is better than to lie.'
A: Are you coming to the party? B: I'd prefer ___.
1. Not to smoke. 2. To not smoke.
1. I remembered not to call. 2. I didn't remember to call.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe first rule of book club is ___ talk about book club. Wait, that's not right.
My personal goal this year is ___ worry so much about small things.
सही वाक्य चुनें:
सही वाक्य चुनें:
She reminded me to forget not the keys.
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved not at all.
अंग्रेजी में अनुवाद करें: 'डॉक्टर ने मुझे चीनी न खाने को कहा।' (The doctor told me not to eat sugar.)
अंग्रेजी में अनुवाद करें: 'मैंने पार्टी में न जाने का फैसला किया।' (I decided not to go to the party.)
इन शब्दों को सही क्रम में रखें:
इन शब्दों को सही क्रम में रखें:
फॉर्मल या इनफॉर्मल स्टाइल के आधार पर वाक्यों के हिस्सों का मिलान करें:
वर्ब का उसके नेगेटिव इनफिनिटिव वाक्यांश के साथ मिलान करें:
Score: /12
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (8)
No, not in modern English. It was a rule made up in the 1800s to make English more like Latin. Today, it's perfectly fine, especially for clarity.
In very formal academic writing or legal documents, it's safer to use `not to` to avoid looking 'unprofessional' to traditionalists.
Sometimes. It can shift the focus. `He agreed not to go` means he said yes to staying. `He didn't agree to go` means he refused to go.
Yes! `To never see you again` is a common split infinitive used for strong emotion.
It's a historical preference. Some people were taught that 'to + verb' is a single unit that should never be broken.
Shakespeare said `To be, or not to be`. This is the standard. `To not be` sounds very modern and emphatic.
No, 'should' is a modal verb. You say `should not go`, not `should not to go`.
Using `no` instead of `not` (e.g., `I want to no go`). Always use `not`!
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
no + infinitivo
English requires 'not' instead of 'no'.
ne pas + infinitif
French negation is two words, English is one.
nicht zu + Infinitiv
German word order is more rigid about the 'zu' placement.
verb-nai + koto
Japanese negation is part of the verb, not a separate word before it.
an + la + verb
The order is fixed in Arabic, unlike the flexible English split.
bu + verb
Chinese speakers often forget the 'to' in English.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
संबंधित वीडियो
05:04 Because He Lives (Amen) | West Coast Choir
03:55 That Totally Unexpected Ending From Episode 1 of Invincible (SPOILERS) | Prime Video
11:37 Reactions to Bad Bunny's Halftime Show | The View
Split Infinitives: To not vs Not to का सही इस्तेमाल
Spoken English Guru
English Grammar Rules: Negative Infinitives explained in Hindi
Dear Sir
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