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Kooyeen Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Could someone... anyone...

Hi,
do you use "someone" or "anyone" when asking?

Can [someone/anyone] check these sentences for me?
Could [someone/anyone] tell me what this word mean?


Is there a difference? I think there is a difference. If you use "someone" you are asking a favor. If you use "anyone" you are asking if there is anyone who would be able to help you. More or less the same kind of difference there is between "Can I take some cake?" and "Can I take any cake?".
So I think I should always use "someone" when asking a favor...

Thank you Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

Hi Kooyeen, do you use "someone" or "anyone" when asking? Can [someone/anyone] check these sentences for me? Could [someone/anyone] tell me what this word mean?

  • Hi Kooyeen, do you use "someone" or "anyone" when asking?
  • Can [someone/anyone] check these sentences for me?
  • Could [someone/anyone] tell me what this word mean?
  • Is there a difference?
  • I think there is a difference.
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4 Answers
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Hi Kooyeen,

do you use "someone" or "anyone" when asking?

Can [someone/anyone] check these sentences for me?
Could [someone/anyone] tell me what this word mean?


Is there a difference? I think there is a difference. If you use "someone" you are asking a favor. If you use "anyone" you are asking if there is anyo
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Kooyeen
Could [someone/anyone] tell me what this word mean?


Means
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Cool, thanks! I was right then...
That's why I always say "Can/Could somebody...?" when I ask for something. The other form, "Can/Could anyone...?" sounds like I'm asking "Would anyone be able to...?"

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Hi,

I think that the rule is:

We use some in a positive, an offer or a request.

Can ......? is a request

So perhaps it should be: Can someone check these sentences for me? = Is anybody willing to this?

* some has a positive meaning and we use it when we expect the answer to be yes

Can anybody check these sentences? = Is anybody capable of doin

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