student asking question

If I say "can't" instead of "don't", would the meaning be changed?

teacher

Antwoord van de moedertaalspreker

Rebecca

Yes, the meaning would be changed if you said "can't sleep" instead of "don't sleep" here. "Don't sleep" implies that she doesn't sleep because of her own doing, so she chooses not to sleep. However, "can't sleep" implies that she is unable to go to sleep, not based on her own doing.

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