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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

need or want?

0 Could you tell me the differences like below?02br
02br
00"Do you need some help?"02br
00or02br
00"Do you want some help?"02br
02br
00Which is the best expression?02br
02br
00Thanks in advance.02br
02br
00MOMO0-
  

Top answer

02br 02br 01font 00Tom needs help with this math problem02font 00. 02br 02br 01font 00Tom wants help with this math problem02font 00. Perhaps he can't find the answer.

— Clive

  • 02br 02br 01font 00Tom needs help with this math problem02font 00.
  • 02br 02br 01font 00Tom wants help with this math problem02font 00.
  • Perhaps he can't find the answer.
  • 02br 02br 00Much depends also on the context you are speaking in.
  • '02br 02br 00Best wishes, Clive0-
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4 Answers
0
0Hi,02br
02br
00One is not better than the other, they are just different in meaning.02br
02br
01font00Tom needs help with this math problem02font00. Means he can't find the answer without help.02br
02br
01font00Tom wants help with this math problem02font00
0
0
0 Hi Clive,02br
02br
00Thanks a lot for your help.!!02br
00Thanks to your teaching, I understood very well.02br
00It depends on the context, doesn't it?02br
00Then,02br
00I have one more question.02br
00"Do you want some help?".......Is this sentence not kindly(a little bit unfriendly?) for whom asking.?02br
0
0
0In normal contexts, it's not unfriendly at all to offer help. It's probably better to ask if the person WANTS help than NEEDS help, becuase it lets that person know it's that person's choice. 02br
02br
00On the other hand, if I'm in a store where the clerk is supposed to be there with the sole purpose of helping me, then "May I help you?" is far better. To have a clerk say
0
0
0 Hi Grammer Geek,02br
02br
00Thanks for your explanation.02br
00It was easy to understand the case which you wrote if you are in store.02br
00I understood the nuances of want and need in these case.02br
00Thanks a lot again.02br
02br
00MOMO0-
0

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