English grammar – Spot the error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “The Head of the Department advised all the staff to not to indulge in gossip.”

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Solve this multiple-choice question and choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context:This question examines infinitive usage and placement of “not”. In formal English, after “advised … to”, we use the infinitive “not to + verb”, not the doubled form “to not to”. Given Data / Assumptions: Matrix verb: “advised”. Infinitival complement expected: “to not to indulge” vs. “not to indulge”. We aim for standard, unambiguous phrasing. Concept / Approach: Correct sequence after verbs like “advise, tell, ask”: “to + not + base verb” → commonly realized as “not to + base verb”. Split infinitives can be acceptable in modern usage, but doubling “to” (“to not to”) is ungrammatical. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the complement: “advise [people] not to indulge in gossip”.Remove the redundant “to” before “not”.Correct sentence: “The Head of the Department advised all the staff not to indulge in gossip.” Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase with a gerund: “advised … against indulging in gossip” — also grammatical, confirming the intended prohibition. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A, B, and D are fine; D uses a standard collocation “indulge in”.E is wrong because C contains a clear error. Common Pitfalls: Inserting “to” twice; confusing the acceptable split “to not indulge” (stylistic) with the incorrect “to not to indulge”. Final Answer: to not to

English grammar – Spot the error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “The Head of the Department advised all the staff to not to indulge in gossip.”

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