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Lone Swordsman Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
You don't want to
Hi, all
I was wondering in what situation I should use "you don't want to" construction in order to give advice to somebody not to do something. To me, it looks like I could replace "you don't want to" with just "you shouldn't" and a sentence would remain the same meaning. Maybe It's just a colloquial expression of "shouldn't" in some situations, is it?
And, of course, I have an example:
You don't want to ask such stupid questions.
You shouldn't ask such stupid questions.
I believe I could rephrase the sentence by replacing "don't want to" with "shouldn't" and there wouldn't be any big difference in meaning.
Am I right?
Thanks in advance,
LS
I was wondering in what situation I should use "you don't want to" construction in order to give advice to somebody not to do something. To me, it looks like I could replace "you don't want to" with just "you shouldn't" and a sentence would remain the same meaning. Maybe It's just a colloquial expression of "shouldn't" in some situations, is it?
And, of course, I have an example:
You don't want to ask such stupid questions.
You shouldn't ask such stupid questions.
I believe I could rephrase the sentence by replacing "don't want to" with "shouldn't" and there wouldn't be any big difference in meaning.
Am I right?
Thanks in advance,
LS
Top answer
Hi, Generally speaking, I agree with you. To me. 'you don't want to' often carries the implication that, if you go ahead and do something, you are going to regret it.
- Hi, Generally speaking, I agree with you.
- To me.
- 'you don't want to' often carries the implication that, if you go ahead and do something, you are going to regret it.
- eg A young man in a bar comes to invite a pretty girl to dance.
- Her very large, heavily tattooed, motor-cycle-gang-member boyfriend smiles and says to him, 'You don't want to do that'.
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3 Answers
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Hi,
Generally speaking, I agree with you.
To me. 'you don't want to' often carries the implication that, if you go ahead and do something, you are going to regret it.
eg A young man in a bar comes to invite a pretty girl to dance. Her very large, heavily tattooed, motor-cycle-gang-member boyfriend smiles and says to him, 'You don't want to do that'.
Best wishes
Generally speaking, I agree with you.
To me. 'you don't want to' often carries the implication that, if you go ahead and do something, you are going to regret it.
eg A young man in a bar comes to invite a pretty girl to dance. Her very large, heavily tattooed, motor-cycle-gang-member boyfriend smiles and says to him, 'You don't want to do that'.
Best wishes
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But this young man's name happens to be D'Artagnan, who replies, "yes, I do! You sir, tell me what you are smiling at, maybe we will laugh together!"
eg A young man in a bar comes to invite a pretty girl to dance. Her very large, heavily tattooed, motor-cycle-gang-member boyfriend smiles and says to him, 'You don't want to do that'.
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Clive, thanks for your comments.
Maple, I hope D'Artagnan has a good dental insurance
.
LS
Maple, I hope D'Artagnan has a good dental insurance
.LS
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