“I can not attend to something” meaning “I'm free not to attend to something”?
When I say "I cannot attend to it" it sounds like I'm saying "I'm not able to attend to it", while what I want to express is that I'm capable of doing it, but I just don't need to.
In Slavic languages it's resolved by changing the negation particle position: [negation] [can] [do something] vs. [can] [negation] [do something]. In the first case I negate "can", while in the second I negate the "do" verb.
How to achieve the same in English and not be ambiguous?
grammar
edited Oct 21 '14 at 18:42
Dan Bron
26k1286121
asked Oct 21 '14 at 18:40
Aleks N.Aleks N.
1,049711
add a comment |
When I say "I cannot attend to it" it sounds like I'm saying "I'm not able to attend to it", while what I want to express is that I'm capable of doing it, but I just don't need to.
In Slavic languages it's resolved by changing the negation particle position: [negation] [can] [do something] vs. [can] [negation] [do something]. In the first case I negate "can", while in the second I negate the "do" verb.
How to achieve the same in English and not be ambiguous?
grammar
edited Oct 21 '14 at 18:42
Dan Bron
26k1286121
asked Oct 21 '14 at 18:40
Aleks N.Aleks N.
1,049711
"I don't need to X" or "I'm not required to X".
– Roger
Oct 21 '14 at 18:43
add a comment |
When I say "I cannot attend to it" it sounds like I'm saying "I'm not able to attend to it", while what I want to express is that I'm capable of doing it, but I just don't need to.
In Slavic languages it's resolved by changing the negation particle position: [negation] [can] [do something] vs. [can] [negation] [do something]. In the first case I negate "can", while in the second I negate the "do" verb.
How to achieve the same in English and not be ambiguous?
grammar
edited Oct 21 '14 at 18:42
Dan Bron
26k1286121
asked Oct 21 '14 at 18:40
Aleks N.Aleks N.
1,049711
When I say "I cannot attend to it" it sounds like I'm saying "I'm not able to attend to it", while what I want to express is that I'm capable of doing it, but I just don't need to.
In Slavic languages it's resolved by changing the negation particle position: [negation] [can] [do something] vs. [can] [negation] [do something]. In the first case I negate "can", while in the second I negate the "do" verb.
How to achieve the same in English and not be ambiguous?
grammar
grammar
edited Oct 21 '14 at 18:42
Dan Bron
26k1286121
asked Oct 21 '14 at 18:40
Aleks N.Aleks N.
1,049711
edited Oct 21 '14 at 18:42
Dan Bron
26k1286121
asked Oct 21 '14 at 18:40
Aleks N.Aleks N.
1,049711
edited Oct 21 '14 at 18:42
Dan Bron
26k1286121
edited Oct 21 '14 at 18:42
Dan Bron
26k1286121
edited Oct 21 '14 at 18:42
Dan Bron
26k1286121
26k1286121
asked Oct 21 '14 at 18:40
Aleks N.Aleks N.
1,049711
asked Oct 21 '14 at 18:40
Aleks N.Aleks N.
1,049711
asked Oct 21 '14 at 18:40
Aleks N.Aleks N.
1,049711
1,049711
"I don't need to X" or "I'm not required to X".
– Roger
Oct 21 '14 at 18:43
add a comment |
"I don't need to X" or "I'm not required to X".
– Roger
Oct 21 '14 at 18:43
"I don't need to X" or "I'm not required to X".
– Roger
Oct 21 '14 at 18:43
"I don't need to X" or "I'm not required to X".
– Roger
Oct 21 '14 at 18:43
add a comment |
1 Answer
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In English this is often achieved by using the opposite verb. In this sentence you could say "I'm free to avoid something" or "I'm free to skip something".
answered Oct 21 '14 at 18:50
MylesMyles
256211
add a comment |
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In English this is often achieved by using the opposite verb. In this sentence you could say "I'm free to avoid something" or "I'm free to skip something".
answered Oct 21 '14 at 18:50
MylesMyles
256211
add a comment |
In English this is often achieved by using the opposite verb. In this sentence you could say "I'm free to avoid something" or "I'm free to skip something".
answered Oct 21 '14 at 18:50
MylesMyles
256211
add a comment |
In English this is often achieved by using the opposite verb. In this sentence you could say "I'm free to avoid something" or "I'm free to skip something".
answered Oct 21 '14 at 18:50
MylesMyles
256211
In English this is often achieved by using the opposite verb. In this sentence you could say "I'm free to avoid something" or "I'm free to skip something".
answered Oct 21 '14 at 18:50
MylesMyles
256211
answered Oct 21 '14 at 18:50
MylesMyles
256211
answered Oct 21 '14 at 18:50
MylesMyles
256211
answered Oct 21 '14 at 18:50
MylesMyles
256211
256211
add a comment |
add a comment |
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"I don't need to X" or "I'm not required to X".
– Roger
Oct 21 '14 at 18:43