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What's the difference between the two following sentences?

a) I came by subway in order to not be late.

b) I came by subway in order to not being late.

For my non native English speaker ears, both sound natural. Isn't it?

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"in order to not being" is ungrammatical, because "in order to" always takes the plain form of the verb. So "in order to not be late" is correct.

English treats the subway (or any vehicle) as a means of travel, not a tool, so the preposition is by, not with: "I came by subway" (or "by the subway", if you want to specify a particular subway, but that's less common).

So the sentence should be "I came by subway in order to not be late." (It could also be simplified to "I came by subway to not be late.")

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  • Good answer, is it right to say: i came by subway so that I am not being late?
    – Cardinal
    Commented Apr 28, 2019 at 14:48
  • "I am not being late" doesn't work; it should be just "I am not late". (be and have are special.) But this clause describes an intended goal, not a fact, so it would normally be subjunctive: "so [that] I would not be late".
    – Anonymous
    Commented Apr 28, 2019 at 15:05
  • @Cardinal Note that you would say I came by subway in order to avoid being late. In that construction, it's be that's ungrammatical, if preceded by to avoid.
    – Jason Bassford
    Commented Apr 28, 2019 at 18:09

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