0
Tenjing Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

what's the difference in meaning?

A. I asked him to help me but he didn't. Vs. B. I asked him to help me but he wouldn't.
  

Top answer

g. perhaps you tried to persuade him but he refused. "he didn't" just says that "it didn't happen", for some unspecified reason.

— GPY

  • g.
  • perhaps you tried to persuade him but he refused.
  • "he didn't" just says that "it didn't happen", for some unspecified reason.
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.

2 Answers
0
"he wouldn't" has a nuance that there was some kind of conversation or discussion or deliberation -- e.g. perhaps you tried to persuade him but he refused. "he didn't" just says that "it didn't happen", for some unspecified reason.
0
0
A. I asked him to help me but he didn't.
Maybe he tried to help, but failed.
Maybe he didn't try.

B. I asked him to help me but he wouldn't.
He was unwilling to help.

Clive
0

Related Questions