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Hans51 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

'Why don't you' has two meanings?

Why don't you study English?

Can the sentence have two meanings?

1. suggestion/ How about studying English.
2. I am curious to know the reason you don't study English.

What do you native English speakers think?

Thank you so much as usual.
  

Top answer

Hans51 What do you native English speakers think? Meaning is subject to context and tone of voice. A: I need some new shoes.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Hans51 What do you native English speakers think?
  • Meaning is subject to context and tone of voice.
  • A: I need some new shoes.
  • B: Why don't you go to the mall?
  • ) -------------- A: I never go to the mall.
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5 Answers
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Hans51What do you native English speakers think?
Meaning is subject to context and tone of voice.

A: I need some new shoes.
B: Why don't you go to the mall? (to buy some shoes.)
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A: I never go to the mall.
B: Why don't you go to the mall? (I go there all the time.)
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Thank you so much and then how about this one?

You know, we shop, we watch TV, we read news on our phones. So why not apply for jobs there?

Is this a suggestion? Or both are possible as well? What do you think?
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Hans51You know, we shop, we watch TV, we read news on our phones. So why not apply for jobs there?
In that context, I take it as a rhetorical question.
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Thank you so much.

Does this mean the second usage?
I take it as a rhetorical question.
AlpheccaStarsB: Why don't you go to the mall? (I go there all the time.)
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Hans51Does this mean the second usage?
No.
See the definition of "http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rhetorical-question?r=66"
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