not so as not to ?????

Forums: Grammar, Esl, English
Email this Topic • Print this Page

Please help me string this sentence together.

So the situation is - You're sick but not too sick. So you can still work today.

The person who asked me this question mentioned the phrase 'not ~ so as not to ~'. I'm not sure if this is appropriate in this case. I'm not familiar with it. Basically he was asking if it's okay to say:

"I'm not so sick as not to work today"

It doesn't feel quite right. But then again I just have no idea >.< I've never said anything like this before. I was always too sick to work.

I don't think 'I'm not too sick to work today' is correct either.

Any suggestions?

Topic Stats
Top Replies
Link to this Topic

Type: Question • Score: 2 • Views: 727 • Replies: 4

No top replies

View best answer, chosen by Jaqen

@Jaqen,

If I had to use this structure, I would say "I'm not so sick as to not work today". I prefer "I'm not so sick that I can't work."

1 Reply

@engineer,

Thanks, Engineer!

Aha, so it's 'so as to not' instead of 'so as not to'.

Since 'I'm not so sick as to not work' doesn't have the 'can/be able to' element, unless you go with:

'I'm not so sick as to not be able to work today'

which is kinda long, you prefer:

'I'm not so sick that I can't work' ... Right?

1 Reply

@Jaqen,

Quote:

Aha, so it's 'so as to not' instead of 'so as not to'.

You can use either.

1 Reply

@Tes yeux noirs,

Oh, ok. Thanks!

0 Replies

not so as not to ?????

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know