What's the difference between "won't" and "wouldn't"?

Question

What's the difference between "I won't blame you" and "I wouldn't blame you"?

@Sprottenwels Although, I agree that they could have done a little more research, keep in mind they asked the difference between the statements, not just the words. Maybe there is some confusion stemming from them that only a english language learner experiences. — Lamar Latrell, Sep 29 '15 at 10:24
@LamarLatrell I didn't mean to scold the OP for his laziness. It rather was all I could contribute to the question, hence I chose to do a brief comment :) — Wottensprels, Sep 29 '15 at 11:07

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 29 '15 at 10:17

To my ear "I won't" is unconditional.

"I wouldn't" implies the possibility of unspoken/implied conditions:

I wouldn't ... (if such and such conditions are upheld.)

I won't is a step closer to I can't.

Wouldn't is a potential step in the direction of weasel words.

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 29 '15 at 15:00

0

First is from will+not, second from would+not, as in:

I will not do it in a million years (ie. not a chance)

vs.

I would not do it if... (ie. there is some possibility).

That is at least my guess.

answered Sep 29 '15 at 15:00

Tom

score -2 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 29 '15 at 09:34

-2

both sentences are nearly the same. The only difference between them is that would is sometimes used to give a more polite impression.

Regards

answered Sep 29 '15 at 09:34

Ragheb AlKilany

But from your own link, politeness is only one of several reasons one might use "would", and in fact the last one given. (And further, while I agree that we do sometimes use it for politeness, the example there is rather questionable.) – mattdm Sep 30 '15 at 12:09

3 Answers3