"How to" + adverbs, and not

[Nightmare85]

Hello guys,
I believe I have problems with "how to".
Some guides begin with it.
Example:
How to learn English.
So, okay so far.
But now I don't know how I can add adverbs, and a not.

How to not be annoying.
How to not suck.
These things I found in google.
However, I remember that we said "to not" is not good.
Does this mean a better version would be:
How not to be annoying.
How not to suck.
:?:

The other problem: adverbs.
We agreed that it sounds strange to put an adverb between to and a verb.
That means this would probably not be good:
How to quickly learn English.

Would be a better version be:
How to learn English quickly.
:?:

In series and also in writings I saw the "to - adverb - verb" - system.
So it's not that unsual as well.
However, I don't which to use...

Cheers!

 

[TheParser]

Hello guys,
I believe I have problems with "how to".
Some guides begin with it.
Example:
How to learn English.
So, okay so far.
But now I don't know how I can add adverbs, and a not.

How to not be annoying.
How to not suck.
These things I found in google.
However, I remember that we said "to not" is not good.
Does this mean a better version would be:
How not to be annoying.
How not to suck.
:?:

The other problem: adverbs.
We agreed that it sounds strange to put an adverb between to and a verb.
That means this would probably not be good:
How to quickly learn English.

Would be a better version be:
How to learn English quickly.
:?:

In series and also in writings I saw the "to - adverb - verb" - system.
So it's not that unsual as well.
However, I don't which to use...

Cheers!

***NOT a teacher***Nightmare 85, good afternoon. (1) The rule is to put "not" in front of the infinitive. (2)Of course, native speakers break this rule all the time because (a) it might sound better to split the infintive with "not" or (b) it might be necessary to use it in order to avoid misunderstanding (sorry! Can't think of an example right now). (3) In general, try to observe the rule. In other words, "Not to go" is "better" than "To not go." (4) Mr. Michael Dummett (University of Oxford) in his excellent Grammar & Style reminds us that Shakespeare wrote: To be or NOT to be. He did NOT write: To be or to NOT be!!!! (5) Regarding split infinitives (adverbs in the middle), I shall leave that hot potato to another poster. Thank you.

 

[Nightmare85]

Thanks.
I was not sure if the "how to" belongs together.
It seems they can be splitted, like: "How not to be annoying".

Cheers!

 

[TheParser]

Thanks.
I was not sure if the "how to" belongs together.
It seems they can be splitted, like: "How not to be annoying".

Cheers!

***NOT a teacher***It seems OK. You did not split "to be." Thank you.

 

[sarat_106]

Hello guys,

The other problem: adverbs.
We agreed that it sounds strange to put an adverb between to and a verb.
That means this would probably not be good:
How to quickly learn English.

Would be a better version be:
How to learn English quickly.
:?:

In series and also in writings I saw the "to - adverb - verb" - system.
So it's not that unsual as well.
However, I don't which to use...

Cheers!

The simple rule is that ‘quickly’ is an adverb where as ‘to’ is a preposition which is used to link a noun/pronoun/noun phrase (called object of the preposition) with the sentence or it can be followed by simple form of a verb to form infinitive. So the object of ‘to’ or for that matter any preposition can not be an adverb such as ‘quickly’ nor in the example sentence:
How to quickly learn English. You can not treat the underlined expression as a noun phrase

 

[bhaisahab]

T
It seems they can be splitted, like: "How not to be annoying".

Cheers!

The simple past and past participle adjective of "split" is "split".

 

[Nightmare85]

Thank you!

sarat_106, what is the correct version then?

Cheers!

 

[sarat_106]

Thank you!

sarat_106, what is the correct version then?

Cheers!

You have already preferred the correct version:
How to learn English quickly

 

[TheParser]

Hello guys,
I believe I have problems with "how to".
Some guides begin with it.
Example:
How to learn English.
So, okay so far.
But now I don't know how I can add adverbs, and a not.

How to not be annoying.
How to not suck.
These things I found in google.
However, I remember that we said "to not" is not good.
Does this mean a better version would be:
How not to be annoying.
How not to suck.
:?:

The other problem: adverbs.
We agreed that it sounds strange to put an adverb between to and a verb.
That means this would probably not be good:
How to quickly learn English.

Would be a better version be:
How to learn English quickly.
:?:

In series and also in writings I saw the "to - adverb - verb" - system.
So it's not that unsual as well.
However, I don't which to use...

Cheers!

***NOT a teacher***Good morning. (1)There are many good articles on the Web to help you with the so-called split infinitive. (2) Please DON'T think it is "strange" to put an adverb between "to" and the verb. (3) Americans do it all the time. (4) You cannot split an infinitive in Latin, but English is not Latin. So most American teachers say there is no "rule" against splitting infinitives. (5) Let's look at your sentence: (a) I want quickly to learn English. (b) I want to quickly learn English. (c) I want to learn English quickly. According to many experts, including Paul Roberts in Understanding Grammar, all three are "good" English. Some people use (a) because they are afraid to "split" the infinitive. But Mr. Roberts says that in (a), the adverb seems to modify "want." In (b) you are modifying "learn," which, I think, is the idea that you want to express. (c) is also correct, but it seems to put more emphasis on the whole sentence. Personally, I choose (b) because it sounds (at least to me) as more "natural" and it clearly modifies "learn." Thank you.

 

[bhaisahab]

You have already preferred the correct version:
How to learn English quickly

I agree, this is by far the best construction.

 

[kubman]

The other problem: adverbs.
We agreed that it sounds strange to put an adverb between to and a verb.
That means this would probably not be good:
How to quickly learn English.

Would be a better version be:
How to learn English quickly.
:?:

In series and also in writings I saw the "to - adverb - verb" - system.
So it's not that unsual as well.
However, I don't which to use...

Cheers!

To add to what has already been said in this respect, let me point out the following:
- the way you choose to say this pivots on what the main emphasis in your sentence is:
like The Parser said: in "How to quickly learn English you are modifying "learn," which, most likely, is the idea that you want to express"
It conveys pretty the same meaning as How to learn English quickly. (although the sound of it is different to your ears, thus you prefer
How to learn English quickly).
- quickly is an adverb of manner which refers to learning (what you learn comes secondary - so you will want to use it in close proximity to the verb learn.
In the two examples above the proximity of quickly and learn is comparable.

- consider these sentences, though:
1) a)How to learn to drive a car quickly
b)How to quickly learn to drive a car

2) a)How to learn to drive a car on slippery roads quickly
b)How to quicky learn to drive a car on slippery roads
or even
3) a)How to learn to drive a car on slippery roads effectively quickly
b)How to quickly learn to drive a car on slippery roads effectively

4)a)How to learn a karate style practised in Japan in the late 1600s quickly
b)How to quickly learn a karate style practised in Japan in the late 1600s

I guess you see my point here: the further away quickly is from the verb learn, the less (meaningful) connection between these words there is.
Therefore:
provided you want emphasize that learning quickly is important in what
you say, choices b) in 2), 3), and 4) would be more satisfactory.

(and you can't forget to emphasize quiclky in these sentences while you're speaking)
;-)

 

[Nightmare85]

Thank you all for your great help!

I believe I fully got it now :up:

Cheers!