This week’s column is on English usage and the focus is on the difference in meanings between ‘why not’ and ‘why don’t’ and ‘have to’ and ‘have got to’. What is the difference between ‘Why don’t’ and ‘Why not’. The occurrences of ‘why don’t’ and ‘why not’ are frequent in conversational English. Though both are concerned with making suggestions, ‘why don’t’ has other functions such as asking for reasons and issuing invitations.
1. A: I have an important meeting today. So, I won’t be able to meet him this evening.
B: Why don’t you check with him whether he is available tomorrow?
2. A: Many eminent persons visit our campus and give guest lectures to our students.
B: Really?
C: Why don’t you come and address our students?
3. A: Your performance in the examinations is not satisfactory.
B: It is because….
A: Why don’t you be quiet and listen to me?
In the examples 1, 2 and 3, the functions of why don’t are to make a suggestion, to issue an invitation, and to give a directive respectively. ‘Why not’ is used to make a suggestion or to express agreement. It can also mean ‘sure’. Look at these examples:
4. Your nephew hasn’t come home yet. Why not call your brother and inform him of the change of date of the marriage?
5. A: We’ll call him home and discuss the matter with him.
B: Why not?
In example 4, the speaker uses ‘why not’ to make a suggestion. In example 5, the speaker B says ‘why not’ to express agreement or to imply ‘sure’ or ‘no objection’.
In a conversational context, ‘why not’ is not used to ask a question whereas ‘why don’t’ is used to ask a question. Some examples:
6. Why not use my phone?
7. A: Why don’t you call him now?
B: Sorry, he is busy attending a meeting.
When someone says ‘Why not use my phone?’, the person makes a suggestion and does not expect a reply from the conversation partner. In example 7, the speaker uses ‘why don’t’ to ask a question.
What is the difference in meaning between ‘have got to’ and ‘have to’?
Both ‘have got to’ and ‘have to’ have the same meaning but the former is less formal than the latter and is used mainly in spoken language. Both the expressions refer to obligation as in the examples below:
1. I have to mark all these answer scripts and submit the marks to the examination cell before 12 noon.
2. He has been behaving in an irresponsible manner. He has got to change his behaviour.
The negative forms ‘don’t/doesn’t have to’ and ‘haven’t got to’ express an absence of obligation and they are not similar to ‘must not’ in meaning. ‘Must not’ is used to express a sense of obligation or necessity.
1. He doesn’t have to make the full payment now.
2. They don’t have to follow the preacher’s instructions.
In the examples above, there is an absence of obligation.
rayanal@yahoo.co.uk
Dr Albert P’ Rayan is an ELT Resource Person and Professor of English