didn't work/ hasn't worked

Question

I want to print something but the printer does not work

Should I say after some attempts : why it didn't work? or what it has not worked?

To me there are the same and have the same meaning but the past simple sound better and are more likely to be used.

Is it true?

You can ask "Why hasn't it worked?", "Why didn't it work?" or, especially if you are still trying, "Why isn't it working?" To ask a question we say isn't it, hasn't it or didn't it. To make a statement we say it isn't, it hasn't or it didn't. — Old Brixtonian, Commented Jul 28, 2022 at 7:40
@OldBrixtonian Does your first questions mean somehow the same? (Why hasn't... Why didn't...) — Meedfried, Commented Jul 28, 2022 at 12:31
@Meedfried If the printer does nothing you might ask, "Why doesn't it work?" If the printer did nothing you might ask, "Why didn't it work?" We would use "Why hasn't it worked?", as Kate Bunting says, when you discover the ink is smudged, or it's the wrong colour, or when it has printed the wrong text or used the wrong font. — Old Brixtonian, Commented Jul 28, 2022 at 17:36
Does this answer your question? "Did you watch this movie?" or "Have you watched this movie?" — Lambie, Commented Jan 1, 2023 at 18:04

Kate Bunting · Accepted Answer · 2022-07-28 08:02:44Z

1

If the printer doesn't work, probably nothing happens when you switch it on/click on 'Print'.

If you find that it hasn't worked, you have probably got a print, but find that the ink is smudged or it has printed the wrong text.

answered Jul 28, 2022 at 8:02

Kate Bunting

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