Can I not do something?

[einburghe]

Hi there,
How do you say when you want to make a refusal? "Do I have to do something?" or "Do I have the choice of not doing something?" or "Can I not do something?"
Which one is more authentic or other ways of saying that? Thanks.

 

[Beryl from Northallerton]

Hello einburghe, and Welcome to the Forum!

They're all fine except that they are not true refusals - they don't amount to saying 'no'.

 

[long619]

I dont get what you meaning at all @@
what do your "refusal" refer to ????
can you ask something more specifically?
By the way, these 3 sentences below are more proper, I hink.
"Do I have to do anything"
"Do I have the choice of not doing anything"
"Can I do nothing"

 

[omidnice]

A polite way of refusing something which has been offered to you is "No, thanks."

 

[PaulQ]

I dont get what you meaning at all @@
what do your "refusal" refer to ????
can you ask something more specifically?
By the way, these 3 sentences below are more proper, I think.
"Do I have to do anything?"
"Do I have the choice of not doing anything?"
"Can I do nothing?"

all of them require question marks.

Each of them have a different meaning depending upon where you put the emphasis. Because they are all questions, not statements, none of them amount to refusing to do something.

 

[long619]

I forgot

 

[long619]

These are some refusals
" I'm afraid I can't'"
" I'm sorry I can't"
" I love to do it but I'm busy right now, sorry"
Or just like what Omidice said: "No. Thanks"