Why did you tear the cloth instead of cutting it with scissors?

[Luis Flmg]

English example sentences with "instead"

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gikken.co

Why did you tear the cloth instead of cutting it with scissors?

Can I rephrase the sentence above using "and not" without a change in meaning?
Why did you tear the cloth and not...... it with scissors?

 

[emsr2d2]

You could end with "and not cut it with scissors", but you can't make your suggested change if you want to keep "cutting". Also, there's really no need for "with scissors". We already know the sentence is about cloth so "cut(ting) it" suffices.

 

[teechar]

Can I rephrase the sentence above using "and not" without a change in meaning?

As emsr2d2 has pointed out above, "and not cut it" is a grammatical option. However, be careful that this solution may not always preserve the meaning.

Consider, for example:
A-1: Why did you boil those chestnuts instead of roasting them?
A-2: Why did you boil those chestnuts and not roast them?

"A-1" is clear and unambiguous. However, "A-2" can imply that the original instruction/expectation was for the person to boil the chestnuts and roast them. Do you see the problem?