If+can’t vs if+won’t be able to

[MichaelLu2000]

Which one is the better choice in the following sentences and why?

1. If you can’t/won’t be able to achieve it, don’t give out hopes.
2. If you can’t/won’t be able to pay it back, don’t borrow money.
3. If it can’t/won’t be able to cure my pain, I won’t take the pill.

 

[emsr2d2]

@Chien Te Lu Did you write those sentences yourself?

 

[MichaelLu2000]

@Chien Te Lu Did you write those sentences yourself?

Yes I wrote them myself.

They might not have been well written, but I simply wanted to know which expression makes more sense: can’t or won’t be able to

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, I wrote them myself.

They might not have been well written, but I simply wanted to know which expression makes more sense: "can’t" or "won’t be able to".

 

[emsr2d2]

Which one is the better choice in the following sentences and why?

1. If you can’t /won’t be able to achieve it, don’t give out hopes up hope.
2. If you can’t/won’t be able to pay it back, don’t borrow money.
3. If it can’t/won’t be able to cure my pain, I won’t take the pill.

 

[MichaelLu2000]

Is there any difference between using "if you can't" and "If you won't be able to" in the 2nd sentence?
My thought is that
1. If you can't: The inability is known before the other person actually borrows the money.
2. If you won't be able to: The inability to pay pack takes place after the borrowing

 

[jutfrank]

Is there any difference between using "if you can't" and "If you won't be able to" in the 2nd sentence?
My thought is that
1. If you can't: The inability is known before the other person actually borrows the money.
2. If you won't be able to: The inability to pay pack takes place after the borrowing

You're on the right lines, yes. Using won't be able to does a good job of placing the inability in the future, since will has a core sense of futurity.

 

[MichaelLu2000]

You're on the right lines, yes. Using won't be able to does a good job of placing the inability in the future, since will has a core sense of futurity.

Thank you for replying.

I have seen people say "Don't have kids if you can't take care of them." I think it means that "If you already know you don't have the ability to take care of them, don't have them in the first place!"

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you for replying.

I have seen people say "Don't have kids if you can't take care of them." I think it means that "If you already know you don't have the ability to take care of them, don't have them in the first place!"

Your interpretation is technically correct but the sad truth is that a lot of people don't discover that they can't take care of (or afford) kids until they have them.

 

[MichaelLu2000]

Your interpretation is technically correct but the sad truth is that a lot of people don't discover that they can't take care of (or afford) kids until they have them.

And "If you won't be able to take care of them, don't have children" means that if you believe you won't be able to take care of your kids after giving birth to them, don't have them in the first place.

The difference between using "can't" and "won't be able to" is that the former implies the realization of the lack of ability takes place before the decision of having babies while the latter means that the inability will take place after the birth of babies.