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Thread: don't / not / not + ing

  1. #1
    Legorille83 is offline Newbie
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    Default don't / not / not + ing

    I'm wondering whether I should use one of the three options mentioned above in a phrase like this: "I don't sleep in the same bed as a woman and don't / not / not mak(ing) a move." I'd rather use the last two options given the auxiliairy do is already present at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, would the right choice be "not + infinitive" or "not + ing"? Thanks

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    Default Re: don't / not / not + ing

    ,"I don't sleep in the same bed as a woman and don't / not / not mak(ing) a move."

    I don't fully comprehend what "sleep in the same bed as a woman" means here (the whole sentence's purport is obscure), but, style-wise, it should look like this:

    "I don't sleep in the same bed as a woman, and I'm not making a move."

    or

    ""I don't sleep in the same bed as a woman, and I don't make a move."

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    Legorille83 is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: don't / not / not + ing

    Quote Originally Posted by Bennevis View Post
    ,"I don't sleep in the same bed as a woman and don't / not / not mak(ing) a move."

    I don't fully comprehend what "sleep in the same bed as a woman" means here (the whole sentence's purport is obscure), but, style-wise, it should look like this:

    "I don't sleep in the same bed as a woman, and I'm not making a move."

    or

    ""I don't sleep in the same bed as a woman, and I don't make a move."
    I'm sorry I forgot to mention the phrase is a simple statement, not a desaprobation or disapproval that needs the use of an 'ing' verb.
    As for "sleep" it's the sexual meaning that is implied here, but I don't think it's very relevant.
    The meaning of the phrase would be something like: If I actually sleep with a woman I will definitely have sex with her".

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    emsr2d2 is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: don't / not / not + ing

    Perhaps "I can't sleep in the same bed as a woman and not make a move"?

  5. #5
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    Default Re: don't / not / not + ing

    Quote Originally Posted by emsr2d2 View Post
    Perhaps "I can't sleep in the same bed as a woman and not make a move"?
    I can't sleep in the same bed with a woman and not make a move?

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    Default Re: don't / not / not + ing

    Quote Originally Posted by Bennevis View Post
    I can't sleep in the same bed with a woman and not make a move?
    That's not as natural as "I can't sleep in the same bed as a woman and not make a move", in my opinion.

    How about: "I can't sleep in a bed with a woman and not make a move"?

    Mind you, they are all pretty unnatural.Normally one asssumes that if a male is sharing a bed with a woman then the objective is sex.

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    emsr2d2 is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: don't / not / not + ing

    Quote Originally Posted by Bennevis View Post
    I can't sleep in the same bed with a woman and not make a move?
    "The same" generally attracts "as" not "with" so I stick with my original.

    I can't share a bed with a woman and not make a move [on her].

    5jj - really? I have shared a bed with someone of the opposite sex many times for reasons of practicality, nothing more exciting!
    5jj likes this.

  8. #8
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    Default Re: don't / not / not + ing

    Quote Originally Posted by emsr2d2 View Post
    5jj - really? I have shared a bed with someone of the opposite sex many times for reasons of practicality, nothing more exciting!
    Perhaps off-topic now, but never mind. In my opinion, and that's all it is, you are uncommon. Most of the heterosexual men and women I know have not shared a bed with someone of the opposite sex (apart from family) for reasons of practicality since their teens. A room, yes, but not a bed.

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