释义 何妨；何不；
1. 表示同意或赞成，意为：好的；可以呀；为什么不可以呢。如：
A：May I go with you? 我可以和你一起去吗? B：Why not? 可以呀。
A：Let’s eat out tonight. 今晚我们出去吃吧。 B：Yes， why not? 那好啊。
A：I wonder if I could make a living by writing.
我不知靠写作能否维持生计。
B：Why not? 那可以呀。
2. 表示劝诱、建议或命令，意为：……怎么样；为什么不……呢。如：
Why not ask someone else? 问问别人怎么样?
Why not go there at once? 为什么不马上去呢?
A：My girl-friend is in a bad mood. 我的女朋友情绪不好。
B：Why not give her some flowers? 为什么不送她一些花呢?
3. 用来询问原因（有时表示一种不可理解的心情），意为：为什么；为什么不……呢。如：
A：He isn’t going to see her off at the station. 他不准备去车站送她。
B：Why not? 为什么?
A：You should not smoke. 你不该抽烟。
B：Why not? 为什么?
A：Don’t touch it. 别碰它。
B：Why not? 为什么?
A：It’s hot! You’ll burn yourself. 那是烫的，你会烫着的。
4. 表示坚持自己的观点、态度或做法，意为：为什么不呢。如：
A：Are you really going to sue them? 你真的要控告他们吗?
B：Yes， why not? 是的，为什么不呢?
why not 后习惯上只接动词原形，不能接带 to 不定式或现在分词。如：
何不静观其结果呢?
误：Why not just to wait and see what happens?
正：Why not just wait and see what happens? 你一脸倦容，怎么不休假呢?
误：You’re looking tired. Why not taking a holiday?
正：You’re looking tired. Why not take a holiday?
注：在一定的语境中，有时why not后可省略动词原形。如：
A：Let’s meet at the station. 我们在车站见面吧。
B：Why not at the hotel?在饭店不行吗?
句中的why not后可视为省略了动词wait。
why not 后习惯上只接动词原形，不能接句子，也不能用“why didn’t+动词原形”“why don’t+动词原形”这样的不伦不类的句子。如：
为什么不等到冬季大贱卖时再买一件新外衣呢?
误：Why don’t wait till the winter sales to buy a new coat?
正：Why not wait till the winter sales to buy a new coat?
按英语习惯，why not ... 结构只用于提出建议，不用于表示责备，即只用于指将来的情况，而不用于指过去情况。如：
我那时是能借钱给你的。你为什么没有向我借?
误：I could have lent you the money. Why not ask me?
正：I could have lent you the money. Why didn’t you ask me?
我喊你的名字的时候，你为什么不来?
误：Why not come when I called your name?
正：Why didn’t you come when I called your name?
如用于 I don’t see why not，其意为“没问题”“好呀”。如：
— Can we go to the park? 我们去公园吧。
— I don’t see why not. 好呀。
1. — It’s a long time since I saw my sister. — _____ her this weekend?
A. Why not visit B. Why not to visit C. Why not visiting D. Why don’t visit
2. Why _____ your luck downtown， Bob? That’s where the best jobs are.
A. not try B. not to tryC. not tryingD. not tried
3. — Let’s go to the cinema this evening， OK?
—_____ A. Not at all.B. Why not? C. Never mind.D. What of it?
4. — Shall we eat Italian food tonight?
— Yes，_____
A. You’re welcome. B. Why not? C. No problem.D. Not much
5. — We could invite John and Barbara.
— Yes，_____
A. So what? B. Why not?C. Not really. D. Never mind.
6. —_____ buy any bread?
— Sorry， I forgot.
A. Why notB. Why don’t C. Why don’t youD. Why didn’t you
7. If you want to sell your old sofa，_____ put an advertisement in the local paper?
A. why not B. why to C. why don’tD. why didn’t
8. — Would you like to try some raw fish?
— _____ ， I’ll try anything once.
A. No wonderB. Which one C. Never mind D. Why not
9. — Would you like some coffee?
— Sure，_____
A. why not?B. not exactly.C. no problem. D. so what?
10. If you are worried about this change of career，_____ talk it over with your family?
A. no ideaB. no wonder C. why not D. not much
11. — Will you join us in the game?
— Thank you，_____ A. but why not?B. but I’d rather not. C. and I won’t. D. and I’ll join. 12. — Michael was late for Mr. Smith’s oral class this morning.
—_____? As far as I know， he never came late to class.
A. How come B. So what C. Why notD. What for
13. — How about putting some pictures into the report?
— _____ A picture is worth a thousand words.
A. No way.B. Why not?C. All right?D. No matter.
14. — Let’s go and have a good drink tonight.
—_____ Have you got the first prize in the competition?
A. What for?B. Thanks a lot. C. Yes， I’d like to. D. Why not?
15. — Do you mind if I open the window?
—_____ I feel a bit cold.
A. Of course not. B. I’d rather you didn’t. C. Go ahead. D. Why not?
【参考答案】 1—5 AABBB 6—10 DADAC 11—15 BABAB
1. Why not retrain for a job which will make you happier?
为什么不接受新的培训，找一份让你更快乐的工作？
2. Why not throw it all in the pot and see what happens?
为什么不把它全扔进罐子，看看会发生什么变化？
3. Why not wipe the slate clean and start all over again?
为什么不洗心革面、从头来过呢？
4. "Want to spend the afternoon with me?" — "Why not?"
“想和我共度这个下午吗？”——“好啊！”
5. "Shall I tell them about poor Mrs Blair?"—"Why not?"
“我应该告诉他们可怜的布莱尔太太的情况吗？”——“为什么不呢？”
6. Why not drop in for a chat?
为什么不过来聊聊天呢？