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Scotty
English Grammar in Use fifth edition
21.3.11
I asked Sue what happened, but she doesn't/ won't tell me.
I have to pick one.
The exam answer is " won't"
I think it should be "would not", and both of these two options are incorrect, because the first part of the sentence is past simple.
I am very confused, could anybody help me to understand it.
Thanks
Nov 4, 2020 2:06 PM
Answers · 5
1
Would not - is correct as well. It implies you ask her in the past and she didn’t tell you in the past.
Won’t is correct. It implies that in the present moment she is still not telling you what happened.
November 4, 2020
This exercise has two correct answers depending on context.
Example 1
wouldn’t with the meaning « refused to do »
Yesterday was very cold. I tried to take my dog for a walk, but he wouldn’t go. [= refused]
See unit 47 of your book for verb changes for reported speech (the same verb changes apply for a description of a past situation and actions which occur before, during, or after the « present moment » in the description.
Example 2
Won’t with the meaning « refused and will refuse the next time also »
Yesterday, I asked my son why he quit the soccer team, but he won’t tell me.
[= he wouldn’t tell me yesterday and he probably won’t tell me tomorrow]
See unit 48 of your book for the choice of not putting verbs in the past when a situation that occurred in the past is still true now.
November 4, 2020
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Scotty
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English
Learning Language
English
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