0
Hensquare Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Could v Would

Hi Teachers,

I have a question about the simple usage of could and would.

The car couldn't start this morning, so I was late for work.
• couldn't
• shouldn't
• wouldn't
• hadn't
The answer : wouldn't

Why is the answer 'wouldn't' instead of 'couldn't' ? Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

I couldn't start the car. The car wouldn't start. We sometimes use will and would with inanimate subjects, almost imbuing them with the human capacity of refusing to do someting

— Fivejedjon

  • I couldn't start the car.
  • The car wouldn't start.
  • We sometimes use will and would with inanimate subjects, almost imbuing them with the human capacity of refusing to do someting
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0
I couldn't start the car.
The car wouldn't start.

We sometimes use will and would with inanimate subjects, almost imbuing them with the human capacity of refusing to do someting
0
0
Are you implying that 'would' and 'will' are supposed to be reserved for use when used in respect to humans, and not objects? I've never heard of such a restriction and in my life have heard/seen/used those words used for both objects and humans interchangeably.
0
0
chipwAre you implying that 'would' and 'will' are supposed to be reserved for use when used in respect to humans, and not objects?
No
0

Related Questions