auxilliary verbs/ellipsis

[navi]

Which are correct:

1-He said it won't get better but it does. (meaning: it does get better)
2-He said it won't get better but it is. (meaning: it is getting better)

3-He said it can't get better but it does. (meaning: it does get better) 4-He said it can't get better butit is. (meaning: it is getting better)

I always say the whole sentence and never shorten it, but I think I have heard sentences like these.

 

[liliput]

I think the 1st and 2nd ones are more correct. Having said that I don't think the sentences make sense, it should be:
He said it won't get better but it will.
He said it can't get better but it can.
He said it doesn't get better but it does.

 

[dwipper]

First, watch your tenses. Since "he" is saying something in the past, you probably want to use the past forms of won't (wouldn't) and can't (couldn't).

1-He said it wouldn't get better but it does.
2-He said it wouldn't get better but it is.

3-He said it couldn't get better but it does.
4-He said it couldn't get better but it is.

I think you could make a case for any of these, but 2 and 3 sound better to my ear.

 

[kenny4528]

I think the 1st and 2nd ones are more correct. Having said that I don't think the sentences make sense, it should be:
He said it won't get better but it will.
He said it can't get better but it can.
He said it doesn't get better but it does.

I think you make a good point.

 

[liliput]

First, watch your tenses. Since "he" is saying something in the past, you probably want to use the past forms of won't (wouldn't) and can't (couldn't).

1-He said it wouldn't get better but it does.
2-He said it wouldn't get better but it is.

3-He said it couldn't get better but it does.
4-He said it couldn't get better but it is.

I think you could make a case for any of these, but 2 and 3 sound better to my ear.

And in these cases I would say;
1. He said it wouldn't get better but it has (got better)/will (get better).
2-He said it wouldn't, but it's getting better.

3-He said it couldn't get better but it could do/can/has.
4-He said it couldn't, but it's getting better.