and what if ...... ?

Question

Hi guys!The sentence says:"If you need the oxygen mask, it will automatically pop out of this box." "And what if it doesn't?"I'd like to ask about the question in the sentence above. Could I also say: "And what if it won't?" instead of "And what if it doesn't?"Would you say that one of them is better than the other?Thanks

Thomas Tompion · Accepted Answer

Yes, you can say "And what if it won't?" which means "And what if it's reluctant to?"

I think "And what if it doesn't?" is more usual and actually correct here. "And what if it won't?" suggests the oxygen mask has a will of its own, or that it resists persuasion - however hard you try you don't seem to be able to get it out. As it is supposed to pop out automatically, I don't think "And what if it won't?" is appropriate.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

The sentence says:

"If you need the oxygen mask, it will automatically pop out of this box." "And what if it doesn't?"

I'd like to ask about the question in the sentence above. Could I also say: "And what if it won't?" instead of "And what if it doesn't?"

Would you say that one of them is better than the other?

Interesting question for a native speaker to consider. Here are a few thoughts.

When we describe how things work,we commonly use either Simple Present or Simple Future.

eg If you press the gas pedal, the car moves forward. It doesn't move sideways.

eg If you press the gas pedal, the car will move forward. It won't move sideways.

Simple Present seems better to describe a common process, in the same way that we use it to describe our everyday routine.

Simple Future is suitable for describing things that don't commonly happen. You might say it's a form of prediction.
ie The oxygen mask is rarely needed, but I predict that it will drop if the need arises.

This for example, sounds odd. If a bomb explodes in a plane, the plane crashes.
But it sounds OK to say If a bomb explodes on a plane, the plane will crash. It won't reach its destination.

To return now to your question, sometimes it's not clearcut to us whether we are describing or predicting. Hence, the mixed tenses in your example.

I prefer the response 'And what if it doesn't?', because the speaker's focus seems to be on how the system works.

Best wishes, Clive

Newguest · Answer

Thank you for your explanations!

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