Why is it なくて and not ないで


> お金が足りなくて、本が買えませんでした。

Shouldn't it be:

> お金が足り _ないで_ 、本が買えませんでした。




ないで doesn't stand for reason/cause (but a condition without the object). Now,
in this example, shortage of money is the reason why you couldn't buy the
book. So, you can't use it.




ないで doesn't stand for reason/cause (but a condition without the object). Now,
in this example, shortage of money is the reason why you couldn't buy the
book. So, you can't use it.

