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 #17 (permalink) Fri Oct 03, 2008 21:12 pm Usage of won't (I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me) |
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| Hi Amy, it's all clear to me now. Thanks! (^-^) |
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Hime
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 01 Oct 2008
Posts: 19
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| #18 (permalink) Sat Oct 04, 2008 1:33 am Usage of won't (I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me) |
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| Quote: |
| This sentence refers to two past acts: asked and did not tell. There is no specific suggestion that she was not willing to tell. |
When contextualised, it can mean that she was not willing. "Didn't tell" offers that possibilty.
| Quote: |
| I'd say the use of "will not" (won't) might be even more likely in sentences such as these, however: |
And in contexts such as this:
A mother coming into the house and passing her daughter who is on the way out and crying. She meets her husband in the kitchen.
Mother (to her husband): What's going on? Why is she crying?
Father: Something happened last night.
Mother: What happened?
Father: I don't know. I asked her, but she won't tell me.
(One also hears "I've asked her, but she won't tell me." and "I've tried asking her, but she won't tell me.".) |
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Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017
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| #19 (permalink) Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:14 am Usage of won't (I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me) |
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1. I asked her what happened, but she didn't tell me.
I would agree with Amy: the sentence provides no information about her "willingness", whereas #3 and #4 do.
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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Location: Southern England
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| #20 (permalink) Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:53 am Usage of won't (I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me) |
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| MrPedantic wrote: |
1. I asked her what happened, but she didn't tell me.
I would agree with Amy: the sentence provides no information about her "willingness", whereas #3 and #4 do.
MrP |
Did you read this?
| Quote: |
| When contextualised, it can mean that she was not willing. "Didn't tell" offers that possibilty. |
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Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017
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| #21 (permalink) Sat Oct 04, 2008 11:45 am Usage of won't (I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me) |
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| Molly wrote: |
Did you read this?
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I read it. I said the sentence provides no information about her "willingness".
If you add words to the text in question, or present it in a particular frame (i.e. "contextualise" it), then of course that new text can express "willingness" or otherwise.
But the "(un)willingness" will reside in the added words or frame, not the original sentence.
MrP |
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MrPedantic
I'm a Communicator ;-)
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Location: Southern England
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| #22 (permalink) Sat Oct 04, 2008 22:47 pm Usage of won't (I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me) |
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| Quote: |
| But the "(un)willingness" will reside in the added words or frame, not the original sentence. |
I would have thought the "(un)willingness" would reside in the added words or frame AND the original sentence combined. |
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Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
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| #23 (permalink) Sat Oct 04, 2008 23:35 pm Usage of won't (I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me) |
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All you guys native English speakers?
How come you guys have different ideas about it?
It IS really confusing to someone who is learning English as
a second language like me!
Please someone make a conclusion on this matter! |
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Hime
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 01 Oct 2008
Posts: 19
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| #24 (permalink) Sun Oct 05, 2008 0:27 am Usage of won't (I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me) |
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I can only see one native speaker here on our forum who often tries to confuse our learners by intentionally misleading them. All the other native speakers are very supportive and their goal is to help people learn English and I'm sure that as a team we can deal with the one troublemaker.
TOEIC listening, photographs: An old fashion kitchen |
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Torsten
Learning Coach
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Posts: 14527
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| #25 (permalink) Sun Oct 05, 2008 0:37 am Usage of won't (I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me) |
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| Quote: |
| I can only see one native speaker here on our forum who often tries to confuse our learners by intentionally misleading them. |
OK, Torsten, can you show us just where that person has tried to confuse the learner here? Where in this thread has that happened? |
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Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017
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| #26 (permalink) Sun Oct 05, 2008 0:55 am Usage of won't (I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me) |
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| Quote: |
| Please someone make a conclusion on this matter! |
"I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me." I asked her for information at sometime before the moment of speaking. She refused (at sometime before the moment of speaking) to give me that information and refusal still stands now (at the moment of speaking).
"I asked her what happened, but she didn't tell me." I asked her for information at sometime before the moment of speaking. She did not give me that information (at sometime before the moment of speaking).
Tell me what it is that you don't understand. |
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Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017
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| #27 (permalink) Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:15 am Usage of won't (I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me) |
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Hello Hime,
The difference of opinion is not of any importance. Amy's posts in this thread will tell you what you need to know.
Best wishes,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
I'm a Communicator ;-)
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Posts: 1326
Location: Southern England
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| #28 (permalink) Sun Oct 05, 2008 2:31 am Usage of won't (I asked her what happened, but she won't tell me) |
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MrP, OK I got it.
Basically, I understand the differences of those sentenses.
And I see that some native speaker thinks "did not tell me" implies her "unwillingness"
while some doesn't agree on that, depending on each person's perception, and
you are saying it is small, not so important which I don't need to be
bothered by. Amy said the right thing basically.
That's all I've learned here. Thanks. |
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Hime
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 01 Oct 2008
Posts: 19
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| Any idioms? (When two persons are always together, etc.) | Checking grammar: Every year our church celebrate thanksgiving as one of the most |
