Minhuoc  +  256480 Wed, 16 Aug 06 04:34 PM Please explain to me "won't". I don't know what  it implies. "Won't you have some tea?" Is it an invitation? Minhuoc Joined on Tue, Oct 18 2005 Full Member 358 Invitations

	Grammar Geek  +  256491 Wed, 16 Aug 06 04:57 PM Yes, it's an invitation, 99.9% of the time, when used as you describe. Would you like some tea? is also an invitation. Won't you have some tea? carries a sense that the person asking believe you would like some. Won't you sit down? is an invitation to sit. Etc. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,660 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Invitations

	Minhuoc  +  256492 Wed, 16 Aug 06 05:00 PM Can you help me by giving an example in which there is this sentence: "Won't you have some tea? Minhuoc

	Grammar Geek  +  256493 Wed, 16 Aug 06 05:02 PM Oh, hello, Mrs. Smith. I didn't expect that you would be able to come by to see me so soon. As you can see, I was just sitting down for some tea and cookies. Won't you have some tea with me? Grammar Geek Cookies

	Minhuoc  +  256494 Wed, 16 Aug 06 05:03 PM I'm wondering if it is an invitation why is it not "Will you have some tea?" but "Won't you have some tea?" Why the negative form is used here? Thanks Minhuoc Negatives, Invitations

	Marius Hancu  +  256507 Wed, 16 Aug 06 05:55 PM --- Of Human Bondage - W. Somerset Maugham "Dinner won't be ready for another ten minutes," she said, in her slow drawl. "Won't you have an egg beaten up in a glass of milk while you're waiting?" --- Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673

	Goodman  +  256509 Wed, 16 Aug 06 06:00 PM  Minhuoc wrote: I'm wondering if it is an invitation why is it not "Will you have some tea?" but "Won't you have some tea?" Why the negative form is used here? Thanks I personally feel that if you are making an invitational offer, I would use the positive tone "would you like to have a cup of tea?" rather the "wouldn't you like ....?".  Notice "would you" is the common phrase, not "will you". Caompare -Would you care for a cup of tea? vs. Will you care for a cup of tea. The latter although looks grammatically correct, it's rough to the ears. Goodman Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005 Senior Member 3,816 The name says it all! Negatives, Invitations

	Marius Hancu  +  256510 Wed, 16 Aug 06 06:03 PM Compare with: http://tinyurl.com/pdhjp where it is mentioned that: "won't you" is seen by some as more urgent than "will you" Marius Hancu