What's the difference??

Question

What's the difference between: It's a secret! I won't tell anybody! and It's a secret! I am not telling anybody! Are both correct? Do they mean the same?

Answer 1

Both are very similar in meanings but each one could work in different contexts:

I won't tell anybody.

• could be said as a kind of promise to someone about your future actions after perhaps they've told you a secret

I'm not telling anybody

• could be said if someone was putting pressure on you to tell them a secret. This version, although it could reach into the future, really stresses that right now in the present you are not saying anything.

Thank you! :) - aileribel, Dec 5, 2012

de nada :) - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 6, 2012