“He just borrows them, not steal(s)” — Coordination of a negated verb in ellipsis





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Little John keeps borrowing Bob's colored pencils but he's too playful to remember to give them back. Bob's mom is upset and talks to John's about it. John's mom would say something along the lines of either




He just borrows them, not steal.




or




He just borrows them, not steals.




Which one is grammatically correct? Why?





I know it's feasible (and probably safer) not to omit anything and go with two full sentences. On the other hand, sometimes we need to emphasize the contrast between the two verbs, or need to be simply more concise. Consider another example, in the legal sense of the verbs, without omission of the second object:




Your argument excuses his actions, not justify / justifies them.




If I'm honest, the latter option seems clunky, but then how would we denote subject-verb agreement, and why wouldn't a simple omission of subject (without affecting the grammar of the rest) work?










share|improve this question





























    1















    Little John keeps borrowing Bob's colored pencils but he's too playful to remember to give them back. Bob's mom is upset and talks to John's about it. John's mom would say something along the lines of either




    He just borrows them, not steal.




    or




    He just borrows them, not steals.




    Which one is grammatically correct? Why?





    I know it's feasible (and probably safer) not to omit anything and go with two full sentences. On the other hand, sometimes we need to emphasize the contrast between the two verbs, or need to be simply more concise. Consider another example, in the legal sense of the verbs, without omission of the second object:




    Your argument excuses his actions, not justify / justifies them.




    If I'm honest, the latter option seems clunky, but then how would we denote subject-verb agreement, and why wouldn't a simple omission of subject (without affecting the grammar of the rest) work?










    share|improve this question

























      1












      1








      1


      1






      Little John keeps borrowing Bob's colored pencils but he's too playful to remember to give them back. Bob's mom is upset and talks to John's about it. John's mom would say something along the lines of either




      He just borrows them, not steal.




      or




      He just borrows them, not steals.




      Which one is grammatically correct? Why?





      I know it's feasible (and probably safer) not to omit anything and go with two full sentences. On the other hand, sometimes we need to emphasize the contrast between the two verbs, or need to be simply more concise. Consider another example, in the legal sense of the verbs, without omission of the second object:




      Your argument excuses his actions, not justify / justifies them.




      If I'm honest, the latter option seems clunky, but then how would we denote subject-verb agreement, and why wouldn't a simple omission of subject (without affecting the grammar of the rest) work?










      share|improve this question














      Little John keeps borrowing Bob's colored pencils but he's too playful to remember to give them back. Bob's mom is upset and talks to John's about it. John's mom would say something along the lines of either




      He just borrows them, not steal.




      or




      He just borrows them, not steals.




      Which one is grammatically correct? Why?





      I know it's feasible (and probably safer) not to omit anything and go with two full sentences. On the other hand, sometimes we need to emphasize the contrast between the two verbs, or need to be simply more concise. Consider another example, in the legal sense of the verbs, without omission of the second object:




      Your argument excuses his actions, not justify / justifies them.




      If I'm honest, the latter option seems clunky, but then how would we denote subject-verb agreement, and why wouldn't a simple omission of subject (without affecting the grammar of the rest) work?







      verbs subject-verb-agreement ellipsis






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked May 18 at 13:14









      M.A.R. ಠ_ಠM.A.R. ಠ_ಠ

      6,47953060




      6,47953060






















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          3














          It would be much more idiomatic to use do to construct these contradictory clauses:




          He just borrows them, he doesn't steal them.



          Your argument excuses his actions, it doesn't justify them.




          In fact, if you're learning English you'll want to become conversant with how thoroughly do support is entwined in the language. Many normal features of other languages will involve do in English.






          share|improve this answer
























          • What about changing the part after comma to a progressive aspect?" ...excuses his action, not justifying them"? Is it the same? I mean should it be "it's not justifying them"?

            – Cardinal
            May 18 at 15:34











          • That wouldn't mean the same thing.

            – Robusto
            May 18 at 17:04











          • Thanks, but would you explain a little bit?

            – Cardinal
            May 18 at 20:06











          • It would be an awkward construction, which in the best case would be construed as omitting a word: "Your argument excuses his actions while not justifying them."

            – Robusto
            May 18 at 20:22



















          1














          I don't think you can do this, because "not steals them" would be an ellipsised version of "He not steals them", which is not grammatical in current English.






          share|improve this answer
























          • That would be "elided". I don't think that "ellipsised" is a word.

            – David Siegel
            May 18 at 19:53



















          0














          If you aree going to muse this form, you should say:




          He just borrows them, not steals.




          The verb form matches that in "He steals them" the implied sentence which is being contradicted.



          I hear this kind of comparison reasonably frequently from native speakers. It is probably technically ungrammatical, but it is in fact in common use, and would be understood. I agree with Robusto that




          He just borrows them, he doesn't steal them.




          is clearer and better, but one must learn to understand English as it is actually used.






          share|improve this answer
























          • You may hear this spoken, but I have never seen it written before. I'm not entirely sure it's one sentence, either.

            – Kevin
            May 18 at 18:33












          Your Answer








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          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes








          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          3














          It would be much more idiomatic to use do to construct these contradictory clauses:




          He just borrows them, he doesn't steal them.



          Your argument excuses his actions, it doesn't justify them.




          In fact, if you're learning English you'll want to become conversant with how thoroughly do support is entwined in the language. Many normal features of other languages will involve do in English.






          share|improve this answer
























          • What about changing the part after comma to a progressive aspect?" ...excuses his action, not justifying them"? Is it the same? I mean should it be "it's not justifying them"?

            – Cardinal
            May 18 at 15:34











          • That wouldn't mean the same thing.

            – Robusto
            May 18 at 17:04











          • Thanks, but would you explain a little bit?

            – Cardinal
            May 18 at 20:06











          • It would be an awkward construction, which in the best case would be construed as omitting a word: "Your argument excuses his actions while not justifying them."

            – Robusto
            May 18 at 20:22
















          3














          It would be much more idiomatic to use do to construct these contradictory clauses:




          He just borrows them, he doesn't steal them.



          Your argument excuses his actions, it doesn't justify them.




          In fact, if you're learning English you'll want to become conversant with how thoroughly do support is entwined in the language. Many normal features of other languages will involve do in English.






          share|improve this answer
























          • What about changing the part after comma to a progressive aspect?" ...excuses his action, not justifying them"? Is it the same? I mean should it be "it's not justifying them"?

            – Cardinal
            May 18 at 15:34











          • That wouldn't mean the same thing.

            – Robusto
            May 18 at 17:04











          • Thanks, but would you explain a little bit?

            – Cardinal
            May 18 at 20:06











          • It would be an awkward construction, which in the best case would be construed as omitting a word: "Your argument excuses his actions while not justifying them."

            – Robusto
            May 18 at 20:22














          3












          3








          3







          It would be much more idiomatic to use do to construct these contradictory clauses:




          He just borrows them, he doesn't steal them.



          Your argument excuses his actions, it doesn't justify them.




          In fact, if you're learning English you'll want to become conversant with how thoroughly do support is entwined in the language. Many normal features of other languages will involve do in English.






          share|improve this answer













          It would be much more idiomatic to use do to construct these contradictory clauses:




          He just borrows them, he doesn't steal them.



          Your argument excuses his actions, it doesn't justify them.




          In fact, if you're learning English you'll want to become conversant with how thoroughly do support is entwined in the language. Many normal features of other languages will involve do in English.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered May 18 at 13:33









          RobustoRobusto

          13.4k23345




          13.4k23345













          • What about changing the part after comma to a progressive aspect?" ...excuses his action, not justifying them"? Is it the same? I mean should it be "it's not justifying them"?

            – Cardinal
            May 18 at 15:34











          • That wouldn't mean the same thing.

            – Robusto
            May 18 at 17:04











          • Thanks, but would you explain a little bit?

            – Cardinal
            May 18 at 20:06











          • It would be an awkward construction, which in the best case would be construed as omitting a word: "Your argument excuses his actions while not justifying them."

            – Robusto
            May 18 at 20:22



















          • What about changing the part after comma to a progressive aspect?" ...excuses his action, not justifying them"? Is it the same? I mean should it be "it's not justifying them"?

            – Cardinal
            May 18 at 15:34











          • That wouldn't mean the same thing.

            – Robusto
            May 18 at 17:04











          • Thanks, but would you explain a little bit?

            – Cardinal
            May 18 at 20:06











          • It would be an awkward construction, which in the best case would be construed as omitting a word: "Your argument excuses his actions while not justifying them."

            – Robusto
            May 18 at 20:22

















          What about changing the part after comma to a progressive aspect?" ...excuses his action, not justifying them"? Is it the same? I mean should it be "it's not justifying them"?

          – Cardinal
          May 18 at 15:34





          What about changing the part after comma to a progressive aspect?" ...excuses his action, not justifying them"? Is it the same? I mean should it be "it's not justifying them"?

          – Cardinal
          May 18 at 15:34













          That wouldn't mean the same thing.

          – Robusto
          May 18 at 17:04





          That wouldn't mean the same thing.

          – Robusto
          May 18 at 17:04













          Thanks, but would you explain a little bit?

          – Cardinal
          May 18 at 20:06





          Thanks, but would you explain a little bit?

          – Cardinal
          May 18 at 20:06













          It would be an awkward construction, which in the best case would be construed as omitting a word: "Your argument excuses his actions while not justifying them."

          – Robusto
          May 18 at 20:22





          It would be an awkward construction, which in the best case would be construed as omitting a word: "Your argument excuses his actions while not justifying them."

          – Robusto
          May 18 at 20:22













          1














          I don't think you can do this, because "not steals them" would be an ellipsised version of "He not steals them", which is not grammatical in current English.






          share|improve this answer
























          • That would be "elided". I don't think that "ellipsised" is a word.

            – David Siegel
            May 18 at 19:53
















          1














          I don't think you can do this, because "not steals them" would be an ellipsised version of "He not steals them", which is not grammatical in current English.






          share|improve this answer
























          • That would be "elided". I don't think that "ellipsised" is a word.

            – David Siegel
            May 18 at 19:53














          1












          1








          1







          I don't think you can do this, because "not steals them" would be an ellipsised version of "He not steals them", which is not grammatical in current English.






          share|improve this answer













          I don't think you can do this, because "not steals them" would be an ellipsised version of "He not steals them", which is not grammatical in current English.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered May 18 at 13:29









          Colin FineColin Fine

          35k25267




          35k25267













          • That would be "elided". I don't think that "ellipsised" is a word.

            – David Siegel
            May 18 at 19:53



















          • That would be "elided". I don't think that "ellipsised" is a word.

            – David Siegel
            May 18 at 19:53

















          That would be "elided". I don't think that "ellipsised" is a word.

          – David Siegel
          May 18 at 19:53





          That would be "elided". I don't think that "ellipsised" is a word.

          – David Siegel
          May 18 at 19:53











          0














          If you aree going to muse this form, you should say:




          He just borrows them, not steals.




          The verb form matches that in "He steals them" the implied sentence which is being contradicted.



          I hear this kind of comparison reasonably frequently from native speakers. It is probably technically ungrammatical, but it is in fact in common use, and would be understood. I agree with Robusto that




          He just borrows them, he doesn't steal them.




          is clearer and better, but one must learn to understand English as it is actually used.






          share|improve this answer
























          • You may hear this spoken, but I have never seen it written before. I'm not entirely sure it's one sentence, either.

            – Kevin
            May 18 at 18:33
















          0














          If you aree going to muse this form, you should say:




          He just borrows them, not steals.




          The verb form matches that in "He steals them" the implied sentence which is being contradicted.



          I hear this kind of comparison reasonably frequently from native speakers. It is probably technically ungrammatical, but it is in fact in common use, and would be understood. I agree with Robusto that




          He just borrows them, he doesn't steal them.




          is clearer and better, but one must learn to understand English as it is actually used.






          share|improve this answer
























          • You may hear this spoken, but I have never seen it written before. I'm not entirely sure it's one sentence, either.

            – Kevin
            May 18 at 18:33














          0












          0








          0







          If you aree going to muse this form, you should say:




          He just borrows them, not steals.




          The verb form matches that in "He steals them" the implied sentence which is being contradicted.



          I hear this kind of comparison reasonably frequently from native speakers. It is probably technically ungrammatical, but it is in fact in common use, and would be understood. I agree with Robusto that




          He just borrows them, he doesn't steal them.




          is clearer and better, but one must learn to understand English as it is actually used.






          share|improve this answer













          If you aree going to muse this form, you should say:




          He just borrows them, not steals.




          The verb form matches that in "He steals them" the implied sentence which is being contradicted.



          I hear this kind of comparison reasonably frequently from native speakers. It is probably technically ungrammatical, but it is in fact in common use, and would be understood. I agree with Robusto that




          He just borrows them, he doesn't steal them.




          is clearer and better, but one must learn to understand English as it is actually used.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered May 18 at 13:48









          David SiegelDavid Siegel

          10.5k1431




          10.5k1431













          • You may hear this spoken, but I have never seen it written before. I'm not entirely sure it's one sentence, either.

            – Kevin
            May 18 at 18:33



















          • You may hear this spoken, but I have never seen it written before. I'm not entirely sure it's one sentence, either.

            – Kevin
            May 18 at 18:33

















          You may hear this spoken, but I have never seen it written before. I'm not entirely sure it's one sentence, either.

          – Kevin
          May 18 at 18:33





          You may hear this spoken, but I have never seen it written before. I'm not entirely sure it's one sentence, either.

          – Kevin
          May 18 at 18:33


















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