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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Vocabulary
Please explain the sentences
Hi,
'Could you please buy some apples for me when you go to the supermarket?'
Does this mean I have to pay for the apples Someone bought for me?
'I bought him some apples.'
Does this mean he had to pay for the apples I got for him?
Thanks a lot.
'Could you please buy some apples for me when you go to the supermarket?'
Does this mean I have to pay for the apples Someone bought for me?
'I bought him some apples.'
Does this mean he had to pay for the apples I got for him?
Thanks a lot.
Top answer
The first one is slightly more ambiguous. I think that if I ask you buy me something, you pay for it. ) But with the right context, it could be possible that there will be reimbursement.
- The first one is slightly more ambiguous.
- I think that if I ask you buy me something, you pay for it.
- ) But with the right context, it could be possible that there will be reimbursement.
- If you want so suggest you'll pay for them, you can use the phrase "pick up some" -- that does have a sense that you will reimburse the person for the purchase.
- " With the second one (I bought him some apples) there is absolutely no sense that he has to pay for the apples.
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6 Answers
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The first one is slightly more ambiguous. I think that if I ask you buy me something, you pay for it. (I'm not sure who has the right to ask this of you outside of your family, but that's not the point.) But with the right context, it could be possible that there will be reimbursement.
If you want so suggest you'll pay for them, you can use the phrase "pick up some" -- that does have a se
If you want so suggest you'll pay for them, you can use the phrase "pick up some" -- that does have a se
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Hi,
'Could you please buy some apples for me when you go to the supermarket?'
It all depends on the context. eg
If my wife says that to me, I don't expect her to pay me.
If my colleague says it to me, I expect her to pay me.
Best wishes, Clive
'Could you please buy some apples for me when you go to the supermarket?'
It all depends on the context. eg
If my wife says that to me, I don't expect her to pay me.
If my colleague says it to me, I expect her to pay me.
Best wishes, Clive
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Hi GG and Clive,
Many thanks to your great help.
I know 'I buy something for someone' could mean 'I give it to someone as a gift.'
Could I really say "Would you please buy some apples for me?" when I ask someone to buy them and I will pay for them?
If my boss asks me to buy some pencils for him and he will pay for them, could I say 'I have to buy my boss some pencils.'?
Many thanks to your great help.
I know 'I buy something for someone' could mean 'I give it to someone as a gift.'
Could I really say "Would you please buy some apples for me?" when I ask someone to buy them and I will pay for them?
If my boss asks me to buy some pencils for him and he will pay for them, could I say 'I have to buy my boss some pencils.'?
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Context will tell you so much more than simple grammar.
I have to buy some pencils for my boss is more likely to have the meaning that he is reimbursing than I have to buy my boss some pencils, but I have to pick up some pencils for my boss certainly carries the connotation that he will reimburse you.
But again, context will tell you so much more. Saying "Re
I have to buy some pencils for my boss is more likely to have the meaning that he is reimbursing than I have to buy my boss some pencils, but I have to pick up some pencils for my boss certainly carries the connotation that he will reimburse you.
But again, context will tell you so much more. Saying "Re
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Hi,
In addition, there's a very cultural aspect to such senetnces.
In my culture, we don't buy gifts for our boss as much as people in some other cultures seem to. And if we did want to buy a gift for our boss, I don't think we would ever buy such trivial things as pencils.
In addition, there's a very cultural aspect to such senetnces.
In my culture, we don't buy gifts for our boss as much as people in some other cultures seem to. And if we did want to buy a gift for our boss, I don't think we would ever buy such trivial things as pencils.
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