Not

[jack]

Are these correct? For these, how do I know where to put 'not? I know this is right 'I need to leave stuff to the last day.' but I don't know where to put 'not'.
1. I need to not leaving stuff to the last day.
2. I need to not leave stuff to the last day.
3. I need not to leave stuff to the last day.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by jack

Are these correct? For these, how do I know where to put 'not? I know this is right 'I need to leave stuff to the last day.' but I don't know where to put 'not'.
1. I need to not leaving stuff to the last day.
2. I need to not leave stuff to the last day.
3. I need not to leave stuff to the last day.

You need'nt leave stuff for the last day.
You need not leave stuff for the last day.
You don't have to leave stuff for the last day.

Emphasis
You need to (do this:) not leave stuff for the last day.

[jack]

1. You need not (to) leave stuff for the last day. (Did you forget to put 'to' in there? Is sounds incorrect without 'to'? For eg. 'You need leave stuff for the last day.' )

So this is incorrect?
2. I need not to leave stuff for the last day.


What do these mean?
3. I need to leave (the) stuff for the last day. (Is this correct without 'the'?)
4. I need to leave stuff to the last day.

[Casiopea]

2. I need not to leave stuff for the last day. (Odd)
3. I need to leave (the) stuff for the last day. (OK)
4. I need to leave stuff to the last day. (Odd)

[Steven D]

2. I need to not leave stuff to the last day. <<


Here's something that's closer to your original. I think it sounds more usual.

I need to not leave things for the last day.

Here's one more. I think it sounds more usual than the first one.

I need to stop leaving things for the last day.

Google has next to nothing on this, but I consider Google to be mostly written language. My examples are much more like spoken language.


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...ving+things%22

[jack]

Thanks.

You need'nt leave stuff for the last day.
You need not leave stuff for the last day.

1. You need not (to) leave stuff for the last day. (This sentence is correct without 'to'?)

I need not to leave stuff for the last day. (Odd)

2. I need (to) leave stuff for the last day. (You said it sounds odd with 'to' but when I take out 'not' is the sentence still correct without 'to?)

What do these mean?
3. I need to not leave stuff for the last day.
4. I need not to leave stuff for the last day

5. need'nt (Does this mean 'need not'?)

[Casiopea]

1. You need not (to) leave stuff for the last day. (OK; infinitive; without or without 'to')
2. I need to leave stuff for the last day. (OK; modal)
3. I need to not leave stuff for the last day. (OK; modal)
4. I need not (to) leave stuff for the last day. (Same as 1.)
5. need'nt = need not

Note, There are two ways in which speakers interpret 'need to go' :

A. need to is a modal, and it modifies the verb 'go': Modal + zero-infinitive:
I need to go => I need to not go => I needn't go

B. need is a verb, and it takes the object 'to go': Verb+ to-Infinitive:
I need to go => I need not to go => I needn't to go