Thread: Not I
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Old 18-Oct-2003, 02:38
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Default Re: Not I

Quote:
Originally Posted by tdol
What do you think of the current usage of 'particle' for 'not'?
Well, hmm, well, lemme see. The word 'not' in not at all and not quite and not John functions as an adverb. It negates the verb.

I slept until 6:00.
Not John. He did not sleep until 6:00.

Adverbs are major parts of speech, as are nouns, verbs, adjectives and prepositions.

Particles, on the other hand, are defined as minor parts of speech, especially short undeclinable ones, like the ones we see attached to phrasal verbs.

However, if you can show that not is a part of (a particle) of a phrasal verb, then I'd have to agree with using the term 'particle' in that particular context.

Do you have some examples?

Cas :)
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