# Grammar point **URL:** \ **Category:** Unrelated Discussion\ **Created:** [July 21, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947 "2014-07-21T21:06:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stuarttw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@stuarttw](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/stuarttw)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/1 "2014-07-21T21:06:48Z")
I know there’s already been a grammar thread, but I have a specific point here. I here a ton of people say, “Try not to do so and so…,” instead of, “Try to not do so and so.” I consider the latter correct. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Totalartist](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/totalartist/32/1054_2.png) [@Totalartist](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Totalartist)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 7:14am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/2 "2014-07-23T07:14:04Z")
> [@stuarttw](#): > > I know there’s already been a grammar thread, but I have a specific point here.  I here a ton of people say, “Try not to do so and so…,” instead of, “Try to not do so and so.”  I consider the latter correct.  What do you think? I would say “try not to walk,” instead of “try to not walk.”  Either might be okay, depending on the context.  But, that’s how I handle it. In your question, I believe you meant to write “hear” not “here.” If you want to read further: > **[Split Infinitives: Are They Still Taboo? | Get It Write Online](https://getitwriteonline.com/split-infinitives/)** > > Split infinitives were once considered taboo, but many writers use them. What's the latest thinking about them? Find out at Get It Write Online. ---
**Author:** ![naoki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/naoki/32/843_2.png) [@naoki](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/naoki)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 7:50am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/3 "2014-07-23T07:50:49Z")
From what I’ve been taught, “not” is one of the few adverbs that usually goes before “to” along with other adverbs such as “never” or “always”. Even if both are used, I usually lose points in papers when I write “not” after. ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 1:20pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/4 "2014-07-23T13:20:19Z")
> [@TotalArtist](#): > > In your question, I believe you meant to write “hear” not “here.” Listen up, he’s used the correct word here… > [@](#): > > but I have a specific point here. ---
**Author:** ![stuarttw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@stuarttw](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/stuarttw)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/5 "2014-07-23T14:27:26Z")
an infinitive in english has already been split into two words. And an infinitive is a noun, and adverbs do not modify nouns. also, think about the meaning. “try to not” means try to prevent from happening; “try not to” means “don’t try to.” ---
**Author:** ![Yoyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/41988e/32.png) [@Yoyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yoyo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/6 "2014-07-23T15:45:04Z")
Nah, they mean the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![abby1371](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/abby1371/32/1075_2.png) [@abby1371](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/abby1371)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/7 "2014-07-23T15:59:27Z")
I honestly don’t see much of a difference the only difference is that one is an infinitive. They practically say the same thing so my question is why does it matter? ---
**Author:** ![stuarttw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@stuarttw](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/stuarttw)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/8 "2014-07-23T21:23:40Z")
> [@abby1371](#): > > They practically say the same thing so my question is why does it matter? No, think about it, not in “try not to” modifies try; not in “try to not” describes the word inside the infinitive. ---
**Author:** ![naoki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/naoki/32/843_2.png) [@naoki](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/naoki)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/9 "2014-07-23T21:48:15Z")
There’s obviously a syntaxical difference, yet, I see no obvious difference in semantics. ---
**Author:** ![theguitarplayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@theguitarplayer](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/theguitarplayer)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/10 "2014-07-23T21:56:21Z")
Grammatically-correct speaking, Stuart is right and ya’ll else are wrong. But if I were to say either choice to anyone of ya, you would know what I mean. Why is Stuart right? Well, in Spanish, an infinitive is one word. In English, an infinitive is two words: to + [the dictionary form of the word] In Spanish the equivalent to “to study” is “estudiar” - one word. Would you imagine splitting up one word: to not study = estunodiar (grammatically incorrect) Another point: An infinitive is one part of speech. ---
**Author:** ![yooldman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yooldman/32/1213_2.png) [@yooldman](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yooldman)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/11 "2014-07-23T22:58:25Z")
Found this helpful. > ---
**Author:** ![Totalartist](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/totalartist/32/1054_2.png) [@Totalartist](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Totalartist)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2014, 9:51am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/12 "2014-07-27T09:51:23Z")
> [@jhb8426](#): > > Listen up, he’s used the correct word here… I was referring to this here, not that there. Now, how 'bout that? > [@stuarttw](#): > > I here a ton of people say… ---
**Author:** ![Sweetwilliej](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/sweetwilliej/32/1388_2.png) [@Sweetwilliej](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Sweetwilliej)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/13 "2014-07-27T14:52:54Z")
I understand that you are expected to use proper grammar on the forum. This just seems like needless nitpicking to me. ---
**Author:** ![RobbieG123](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/robbieg123/32/715_2.png) [@RobbieG123](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/RobbieG123)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/14 "2014-08-06T17:56:19Z")
> [@theguitarplayer](#): > > ya’ll else are wrong. I refuse to take advice on the English language from a person who says “ya’ll else” ---
**Author:** ![theguitarplayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@theguitarplayer](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/theguitarplayer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/15 "2014-08-06T18:19:23Z")
> [@RobbieG123](#): > > I refuse to take advice on the English language from a person who says “ya’ll else” Yet I’m dead right. :wink: ---
**Author:** ![stuarttw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@stuarttw](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/stuarttw)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/grammar-point/67947/16 "2014-08-06T19:20:42Z")
> [@RobbieG123](#): > > I refuse to take advice on the English language from a person who says “ya’ll else” For your information, “ya’ll else” is a colloquial term, and I don’t believe any of us use standard formal English on this forum.