Negative to-Infinitives: Patterns of Grammatical Preference

Abstract

This study examines how native English speakers and Korean learners of English use the negative to-infinitive forms not to and to not in formal writing and informal speech. The analysis focused on three aspects: overall frequency of each form, variation across modalities, and differences between the two speaker groups. Results show that native speakers adjust their grammatical choices according to context, using not to predominantly in writing while increasing their use of to not  in speech, particularly in informal situations. In contrast, Korean learners exhibited a strong preference for not to across both writing and speech, with little variation between modalities. Even in informal spoken contexts, the use of to not was extremely limited. This consistent reliance on not to indicates a tendency to prioritize formally taught grammatical rules over context-sensitive variation. The results point to a gap in learners’ ability to adjust their language use to suit different communicative situations, likely stemming from the dominance of prescriptive grammar instruction and limited exposure to informal spoken English. The findings reveal a marked contrast between native speakers’ context-driven grammatical choices and the relatively fixed usage patterns of Korean learners. These differences highlight the importance of fostering grammatical adaptability through instruction that emphasizes not only accuracy but also contextual appropriateness and variation. A balanced approach to grammar teaching—one that includes explicit awareness of register and the range of acceptable forms—may help learners develop more flexible and natural patterns of English use.