Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[dido4]

1.My mom let me keep a dog.

Q1:
Which one is correct to express negative meaning?
(A)My mom didn't let me keep a dog.
(B)My mom let me not to keep a dog.
(I know that there's no "to" in causative verbs here like have, make and let)
(C)My mom let me didn't Keep a dog.

2.My mom wants us to go to bed early.

Q2:
Which one is correct to express negative meaning?
(A)My mom wants us not to go to bed early.
(B)My mom doesn't want us to go to bed early.
In Q2, if both (A) and (B) are ok, do they have the same meaning?
Or is there a slight different between (A) and (B)?

Thank you

[CP]

Q1: A is correct.

Q2: Both are correct; B is more likely to be said by a native speaker than A.

I think B is more common because what we usually negate is the main verb--what Mom wants or doesn't want, in this case. If you wanted to emphasize not going to bed rather than what Mom wants or doesn't want, they you might say A.

Yours truly, CP