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Daniel Ojeda
I recently learned that to express refusal people say won't/wouldn't.
For example, My car suddenly breaks down and I say "my car won't work".
My question is:
What would a native think if they hear I say "my car doesn't work"?
Would I be understood?
2023년 1월 4일 오후 2:54
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3
Hi. ‘Won’t’ and ‘doesn’t’ could have a slightly different meaning, related to the reason. Example:
My car won’t start. (I tried to start it, I asked it to start. It refused to start. I might be tempted to say this if I’m not sure why or I don’t care why it didn’t start)
My car doesn’t start. (It’s just a fact. I could very well know why it doesn’t)
I would never say ‘My car won’t work’. to mean that ‘my car doesn’t work’. It sounds like I’m making a prediction about something in the future. For example:
A:Can we use your car to get to the airport?
B: My car won’t work. It only holds 5 people and we have 6. (It’s not suitable for that future activity.)
If you want to make a current factual statement about your car, you could say:
My car doesn’t work. (It won’t start./It doesn’t start/The battery’s dead/I blew a gasket/It was in an accident)
2023년 1월 4일
"My car won't work"-- An expectation: I think it won't work, but I haven't tried starting it yet and am not necessarily sure of the outcome
"My car doesn't work" -- A fact. The car currently isn't working and possibly hasn't worked for some time
"My car isn't working"-- A current state of being, suggests that this development is recent
Note: I have also heard people say something like, "My stupid car won't work." In that context, "won't" is used to mean "isn't", ie, "I've already tried starting the car and it won't work."
However that's a colloquial, spoken-only usage. I wouldn't write it that way unless I was purposefully writing dialogue or the narration of a person and wanted to indicate that they were speaking in a casual or slightly ungrammatical way.
2023년 1월 4일
Probably what you're picking up on is a regional thing, where people from some countries might prefer to express the same thing using slightly different words. I think in Australia, where I am, we'd probably say "my car's not working" or "my car doesn't work."
2023년 1월 4일
My car isn’t working is correct and probably more common.
You hear « my car won’t start » often. That means the engine won’t turn over. Maybe no battery or out of gas.
2023년 1월 4일
Yes, we say that.
You will be understood.
I would assume that your care needs some kind of repair.
Good luck!
2023년 1월 4일
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