Specific question construction (couldn’t find anything on Google) [migrated]

How do I ask why a person does not want a certain thing ?

If why don’t you is more like a suggestion, and why you don’t wanna…, as far as I know, is grammatically incorrect, what’s the correct way to say it? **Why won’t you want to… ** ??

Solution 1:

Why don't you X and Why don't you want to X are completely different in meaning.

Examples

1.

A: I'm tired

B: Why don't you lie down and rest for a while?

A: Yes - good idea

In this case "Why don't you lie down" is a polite suggestion - it is an idiom, it is not a request for information. Instead of telling someone "Lie down and rest!", which would appear rude, we ask "Why not?"

2.

A: I'm tired but I don't want to lie down

B: Why don't you want to lie down?

A: Because lying down would make my headache worse.

In this case, "Why don't you want" is a request for information. You have told me that you don't want to lie down and now I am enquiring the reason.

Note - Please avoid using "wanna". It's okay in text messages and social media but it should never be used in any kind of formal English.