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What is the difference in the usage of "won't" and "wouldn't" in these sentences:

The bathroom is filthy. I won't even wash my socks in it.
The bathroom is filthy. I wouldn't even wash my socks in it.

I know that "wouldn't" expresses refusal in the past but what does it mean in this sentence (if it's correct of course)?

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  • The difference is the same as "what you will do" vs. "what you would do".
    – user3169
    Commented Jul 24, 2018 at 18:36

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wouldn't isn't only the past tense; it can also be used in a conditional or hypothetical sense.

"I won't even wash my socks in it" is a simple factual statement that I will not do it.

"I wouldn't even wash my socks in it" is essentially saying "I would not use it for anything, even washing my socks." It's like saying "Wash my face in that bathroom? I wouldn't even wash my socks in there" but we don't always say it so verbosely.

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    So when use "won't" it means that I really have to wash my socks somewhere but it won't be in that bathroom. Compared to "wouldn't" where I don't have to wash my socks but say that "If I had to wash them, I wouldn't wash them in thath bathroom".. Is that right?
    – kirpt
    Commented Jul 24, 2018 at 19:20
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    Mostly, yes. I don't think it is usually so specific, but "I won't even wash my socks in there" slightly implies that I do wash my socks somewhere, but not in that bathroom, while "I wouldn't even wash my socks in there" says "Even if I did have to wash my socks, it would not be in there".
    – stangdon
    Commented Jul 24, 2018 at 19:22
  • Yeah, sure! Thanks a lot! Now I have trouble with another usage of would - would & would have. Look at these 2 sentences: No one would guess he lives in a fancy house. and: No one would have guessed he lived in a fancy house. Do they mean the same? Actually are they correct?
    – kirpt
    Commented Jul 24, 2018 at 19:25

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