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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

won't vs wouldn't?

1. I won't / wouldn't ever hurt you.
2. I won't / wouldn't give you anything dangerous.
If any, what's the difference between 'won't' and 'wouldn't' in this case?
I'm just guessing the intended meaning is quite the same
and it's a matter of nuance or something.
In what situation is natural to use 'wouldn't' over 'won't'?
  

Top answer

Anonymous it's a matter of nuance or something. Yes, "or something". I won't is an unconditional promise that applies to all time starting from the statement of the promise.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous it's a matter of nuance or something.
  • Yes, "or something".
  • I won't is an unconditional promise that applies to all time starting from the statement of the promise.
  • I wouldn't is not exactly a promise.
  • It's based on implicit conditions.
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3 Answers
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Anonymousit's a matter of nuance or something.
Yes, "or something".

I won't is an unconditional promise that applies to all time starting from the statement of the promise.
I wouldn't is not exactly a promise. It's based on implicit conditions.

If the opportunity ever came up to (do X), I would not (do X).
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Thank you very much, CJ.This is off the topic, but I've been also wanting to know what's the difference between "I'm not doing something", "I'm not going to do something" and "I won't do something" when they're used to show refusal. I've heard the first type quite a lot. Is there any difference?
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Anonymousany difference?
Hardly any. To my ear they only differ in the strength of the refusal. Here they are in order, from strongest to weakest:

I won't do it.
I'm not doing it.
I'm not going to do it.

Others may rank them differently. That shows you how little difference there is.

CJ
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