Question

Fill in the blank with the most suitable option:

I ran quickly ______________ late.

• A. not in order to be
• B. order to be not
• C. in order not to be
• D. in order to not be

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

in order not to be

Option C: 'To be' is an infinitive; 'not to be' is its negative form. 'In order to' is a conjunction. We use 'in order to' along with an infinitive 'be' to express the purpose of something: I ran quickly for the purpose of not being late.

Hence this order of words is correct and option C is the right answer.

Options A, B and D do not have the correct order of words, as 'in order to' is a set phrase, and the negation 'not' will come before the infinitive 'to be'.

Hence options A, B and D are wrong.