MrPernickety  +  720522 Thu, 07 May 09 09:12 PM Hi, Could you tell me which of these sentences sound natural?   1. I don't have a dime, let alone a dollar 2. I don't have a dime, not to mention a dollar 3. I don't have a dime, much less a dollar 4. I don't have a dime, still less a dollar     5. I can't even draw a sketch, let alone paint a picture 6. I can't even draw a sketch, not to mention paint a picture 7. I can't even draw a sketch, much less paint a picture 8. I can't even draw a sketch, still less paint a picture   Many thanks ! MrPernickety Joined on Sat, Oct 25 2008 Regular Member 736 Amendment XXX to the US Constitution: No man shall be held accountable for any promise he makes while drunk unless it was a bet. Sentences

	Philip  +  720561 Thu, 07 May 09 10:52 PM I don't like #s 4 & 8. 1 & 3 and 5 & 7 sound very natural.   I don't care for 'not to mention' in these cases. [I have to clean the garage, mop the kitchen floor, do the bathrooms, not to mention a week's worth of laundry.]  Perhaps it's after the negative that I don't like the phrase.  Others might enlighten my failure here to explain thoroughly. Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,738 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen Negatives

	MrPernickety  +  720692 Fri, 08 May 09 02:44 AM Thanks, Philip. I gotcha ! MrPernickety