A
Amber_1010
Senior Member
Hong Kong
Chinese-Cantonese
- May 22, 2013
- #1
Hi! Let's discuss.
When we need some help, should we say:
1. Could someone help me please?
2. Could anyone help me please?
Are they interchangeable? I don't think so.
I think we should say 1, because we are expecting someone who knows how to solve the problem, not eveyone, it's specific.
But we use 2 instead if we are making a statement like 'I don't think anyone could help me' which means not a person can help you, it doesn't matter who.
But sometimes I hear people say:
A: Stop standing there! Find someone to help you
B: Find who?
A: Anyone! Anyone that can help you!
- Why do we use 'anyone' to mean the person that can help you here?
I'm confused.
Am I right? Please comment?
Thanks.
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perpend
Banned
American English
- May 22, 2013
- #2
Amber_1010 said:
When we need some help, should we say:
1. Could someone help me please?
2. Could anyone help me please?
2. doesn't really make sense to me, sorry to say.
It would make sense to me like this: Can anyone here help me please?
It needs to be more specific, and the "here" adds that element.
A
Amber_1010
Senior Member
Hong Kong
Chinese-Cantonese
- May 22, 2013
- #3
Hi perpend,
Then, what's the difference in saying:
1. Could someone help me please
And
'Could anybody here help me please'
??
Thanks!
perpend
Banned
American English
- May 22, 2013
- #4
Could someone help me please?
Could anyone here help me please?
Both of these are in the moment. You are literally asking in the moment.
Could anyone help me please?
This means, in general, is there anyone out there who can help me? You don't really mean right in the moment. The "please" makes it sound also a bit off.
EDIT: I think you added to your OP, so the moderators may need to look at this.
A
Amber_1010
Senior Member
Hong Kong
Chinese-Cantonese
- May 22, 2013
- #5
I don't quite understand.
Do you mean 'some' is more urgent than 'any'??
perpend
Banned
American English
- May 22, 2013
- #6
Not more urgent, but more specific.
A
Amber_1010
Senior Member
Hong Kong
Chinese-Cantonese
- May 22, 2013
- #7
So 2 is not commonly used? It sounds strange to me too.
Is it possible that it may be used in some situations?
I really can't think think of any.
AND,
Could someone help me please means the same as Could anyone here help me please ??
Is there a preference when to use which? Like I was thinking:
Use the first one if the task is difficult, you are expecting someone who knows how to solve it.
Use the second one if you think maybe more than one person here can help you?
Please comment.
Last edited:
velisarius
Senior Member
Greece
British English (Sussex)
- May 22, 2013
- #8
I'd say "Can somebody help me please". I see this as more of a command than a question.
"Is there anyone here who can help me?"
I suspect this may be the difference; definite question sounds better with "anybody".
rhitagawr
Senior Member
Wales
British English
- May 22, 2013
- #9
Someone can sound like a command. The boss could say Will someone answer that phone? But I'm not sure that it does in the OP question. In the OP, A is right to say Anyone!
He's giving B and unlimited choice. He doesn't care who B asks.
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