[Grammar] The car won't/can't/doesn't start.

[kadioguy]

The car won't start.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/will
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a. The car won't start.
b. The car can't start.
c. The car doesn't start.

What is the difference in meaning among them?

 

[Rover_KE]

a. The car won't start.
b. The car can't start.
c. The car doesn't start.

What is the difference in meaning [STRIKE]among[/STRIKE] between them?

Only a is colloquial.

 

[ClareW]

The car won't start.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/will
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a. The car won't start.
b. The car can't start.
c. The car doesn't start.

What is the difference in meaning among them?

I've never heard b. It seems strange to me to use "can't" in this way (to talk about ability) to refer to a machine.

 

[jutfrank]

Here are some possible interpretations:

The car won't start.

I'm telling you that I'm currently having a problem with my/our car—I can't get the engine to ignite. This is not good because I need to use it now.

The car doesn't start.

This could be used to express a simple fact about the state of some car. It is unlikely that someone would need to say this.

The car can't start.

This could be used to say that for some reason it is not possible for some car to start. It is very unlikely that someone would need to say this.

 

[kadioguy]

The car doesn't start.

This could be used to express a simple fact about the state of some car. It is unlikely that someone would need to say this.

The car can't start.

This could be used to say that for some reason it is not possible for some car to start. It is very unlikely that someone would need to say this.

[FONT=Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif]Is the following reasonable?[/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif]It seems that this car have been severely damaged. I think it can't/does start.[/FONT]

 

[GoesStation]

Is the following reasonable?


It seems that this car have been severely damaged. I think it can't/does start.

No. "Car" is singular, so the verb in the first sentence doesn't agree with the number of the subject. And as discussed above, it can't start isn't natural. It doesn't start is possible, but it won't start​ is most likely.

 

[Tarheel]

[FONT=Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif]Is the following reasonable?[/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif]It seems that this car has been severely damaged. I think it can't/does start.[/FONT]

No, that doesn't make sense (for a couple of reasons). (If I had any doubts about the matter I would put the key in the ignition and try to start it.)



(Cross posted with GS.)

 

[kadioguy]

"Car" is singular, so the verb in the first sentence doesn't agree with the number of the subject.

A basic grammatical error I shouldn't have made.