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Nsfs2 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Wouldn't vs won't
Hi,
What is the difference between these two sentences?
1.'My computer won't start.'
2.'My computer wouldn't start.'
P.S.Can the difference _if any_be applied to different situations?
Thanks a lot.
What is the difference between these two sentences?
1.'My computer won't start.'
2.'My computer wouldn't start.'
P.S.Can the difference _if any_be applied to different situations?
Thanks a lot.
Top answer
I'm no grammar expert, but the difference in your two sentences is simple. Won't implies that your computer is currently not starting and wouldn't implies that it did not start sometime in the past. Yesterday my car wouldn't start.
- I'm no grammar expert, but the difference in your two sentences is simple.
- Won't implies that your computer is currently not starting and wouldn't implies that it did not start sometime in the past.
- Yesterday my car wouldn't start.
- Hi, Bob, I can;t come into work.
- Why?
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4 Answers
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I'm no grammar expert, but the difference in your two sentences is simple.
Won't implies that your computer is currently not starting and wouldn't implies that it did not start sometime in the past.
Yesterday my car wouldn't start. Hi, Bob, I can;t come into work. Why? My car wont start.
But wouldn't doesn't always imply past. Jim wouldn't make a very good politician.
Won't implies that your computer is currently not starting and wouldn't implies that it did not start sometime in the past.
Yesterday my car wouldn't start. Hi, Bob, I can;t come into work. Why? My car wont start.
But wouldn't doesn't always imply past. Jim wouldn't make a very good politician.
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i have heard the version with won't. It means that it does no t work like for example my pen won't writ. What about the second sentence it already shows a kind of tense
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1: My computer won't start. ( =every time when I try to switch it on)
2: My computer wouldn't start (I tried to switch it on but it wouldn't start; said of a past event)
The second is similar to "My computer didn't start" but gives the impression as if the computer refused to start.
2: My computer wouldn't start (I tried to switch it on but it wouldn't start; said of a past event)
The second is similar to "My computer didn't start" but gives the impression as if the computer refused to start.
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Ivanhr1: My computer won't start. ( =every time when I try to switch it on)2: My computer wouldn't start (I tried to switch it on but it wouldn't start; said of a past event)The second is similar to "My computer didn't start" but gives the impression as if the computer refused to start.Thanks everybody.
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