Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part of the sentence:
The teacher advised him to not waste time.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. not to waste time.
Grammatical concept: In English grammar, when converting an imperative sentence (a command, request, or piece of advice) into indirect speech, we use an infinitive structure (to + V1).
What is wrong: When the advice is negative, the word 'not' must be placed before the infinitive (to + verb). Placing 'not' between 'to' and the verb results in a 'split infinitive,' which is generally avoided in formal grammar for this specific structure.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: The phrase 'to not waste' incorrectly places the negative particle after the preposition 'to'. According to the rules of narration and reporting, the negative instruction should be structured as 'not to'.
Correction: Replace 'to not waste' with 'not to waste' to maintain the correct grammatical order for negative infinitives.
Final sentence: The teacher advised him not to waste time.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.