would not have let OR would have not let

[rebrik]

Hi everyone!
I came across one problem and need your help as even native speakers of English couldn´t give me a satisfying answer.
Let´s say we have the following sentence:

If I had known it, I wouldn´t have let him do it.

If I wanted to write this sentence without the contracted form, should it be:

If I had known it, I would not have let him do it.
OR
If I had known it, I would have not let him do it.

For me, the first sentence would be more logical (wouldn´t = would not), but also the second one sounds ok to me...
Could somebody tell me which sentence is correct?
Thank you VERY much!

rebrik

[Stephen Jones]

The first is more normal.

You're actually shifing the scope of the negation in the second, but I doubt if it makes any difference to the meaning.

[rouen_teacher]

Sure, the first one you wrote. The negative implication (not) must go before the verb as far as I have read. And, being native, its what I have always heard and written and seen written!
Dan

[rebrik]

Thank you very much!

[woodcutter]

I doubt that Dan. Stuff happens, y'know. I mean, even your own final sentence may have broken some strange new ground.