I'm not going to and will refusals

Question

HiI've always tried to understand the difference between I'm not going to do it and I won't do it......I mean they both express I don't want do something

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I've always tried to understand the difference between I'm not going to do it and I won't do it..I mean they both express I don't want do something

I hope you realize that I'm not going to / I won't are not just for refusals.

They could be, eg predictions. I'm not going to win a Nobel prize. eg He's running fast, but he won't break the world record.

However, let's consider them in the context of refusals.

Mary says to Tom, her son, 'Please do your homework'.

Tom replies, 'I'm not going to do it'. This implies a bit that he has considered the action thoughtfully, carefully, and reached a conclusion.

Tom replies, 'I won't do it'. The stress is more here on the refusal, ie 'I'm unwilling to do it'. It sounds a bit more emphatic, and perhaps more impulsive, more spontaneous.

However, sometimes there's not a lot of difference.

Best wishes, Clive

MRANALYZE · Answer

what I wanted to know was just what you wrote on 'I won't do it' that It sounds a bit more emphatic, and perhaps more impulsive, more spontaneous.

I just have a question about the prediction thing which I've never agreed on.....I've read that when I'm making a prediction out of presently evidences I have to use the going to form and the general example is with the clouds and the guy that looking at them says 'I think it's going to rain'.....so far I agree but what if i have a conversation as follows

Reo-(he calls his friend) I couldn't find the object you had told me to buy

Jen- I guess I'm going to have to find another one

in this kind of example I can't see the evidences as I was able to on the kind with the clouds.......do you get what I mean?

if I also take your sentence 'He's running fast, but he won't break the world record'.......why wouldn't you use the going to form? I mean you can see him running so he's not going to break the record

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I just have a question about the prediction thing which I've never agreed on..I've read that when I'm making a prediction out of presently evidences I have to use the going to form and the general example is with the clouds and the guy that looking at them says 'I think it's going to rain'..so far I agree but what if i have a conversation as follows

Reo-(he calls his friend) I couldn't find the object you~~had~~ told me to buy

Jen- I guess I'm going to have to find another one

in this kind of example I can't see the evidences as I was able to on the kind with the clouds..do you get what I mean? Jen is not making a prediction here. She's stating a plan. I usually begin teaching 'future with going to' with my class by telling them to use it when they have a plan.

if I also take your sentence 'He's running fast, but he won't break the world record'.......why wouldn't you use the going to form? I mean you can see him running so he's not going to break the record

Yes, you can often use either. Here, I favoured 'will (not)' because it seemed like an impulsive utterance. It's like when the phone rings. You'd naturally jump up and say 'I'll get it' rather than 'I'm going to get it'.

Clive

MRANALYZE · Answer

She's stating a plan. I usually begin teaching 'future with going to' with my class by telling them to use it when they have a plan.

you mean that thing about the actions considered thoughtfully?

clive......thank you.

Clive · Answer

Hi,
Yes.
Clive

I'm not going to and will refusals

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