Question
28 June
- Japanese
-
English (US)
Question about English (US)
What is the difference between Can someone come to my home to pick it up? and Can anyone come to my home to pick it up? ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
What is the difference between Can someone come to my home to pick it up? and Can anyone come to my home to pick it up? ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
Answers
28 June
Featured answer
- English (US)
"Can someone (do something)?" is the normal way to say this sort of thing. It is just asking whether there is a person who can do that thing, or whether a business will make one of their people do that thing, etc.
"Can anyone (do something)?" implies that most people can't do that thing (it's an unusual ability, etc), and you're asking whether there is anyone present who has the ability to do it (or whether everyone here is unable to do that thing). For example, "Can anyone speak Japanese?" (I'm looking for someone who can speak Japanese, but I know most people (here) can't, and am not sure whether anyone with that ability exists, etc)
So usually, if you were, for example, wanting to mail a package and talking to the package delivery company, you would say "Can someone come to my home to pick it up?" to see if they offer that service. However, if you were talking with a group of people who you knew were all busy, but you're hoping one of them will have time to pick something up from your house, you might say "Can anyone come to my home to pick it up?", because you're really saying "I know most of you probably can't do it, but does anyone in the group have the ability to do this?"
Highly-rated answerer
Read more comments
- English (US)
The literal meaning is the same, but they show a different attitude.
If you say "someone", you think that the answer will probably be "yes".
If you say "anyone", you think the answer could be no, or you are afraid it will be "no".
Highly-rated answerer
- Japanese
That really makes sense!!
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much!
- English (US)
"Can someone (do something)?" is the normal way to say this sort of thing. It is just asking whether there is a person who can do that thing, or whether a business will make one of their people do that thing, etc.
"Can anyone (do something)?" implies that most people can't do that thing (it's an unusual ability, etc), and you're asking whether there is anyone present who has the ability to do it (or whether everyone here is unable to do that thing). For example, "Can anyone speak Japanese?" (I'm looking for someone who can speak Japanese, but I know most people (here) can't, and am not sure whether anyone with that ability exists, etc)
So usually, if you were, for example, wanting to mail a package and talking to the package delivery company, you would say "Can someone come to my home to pick it up?" to see if they offer that service. However, if you were talking with a group of people who you knew were all busy, but you're hoping one of them will have time to pick something up from your house, you might say "Can anyone come to my home to pick it up?", because you're really saying "I know most of you probably can't do it, but does anyone in the group have the ability to do this?"
Highly-rated answerer
- Japanese
Thank you for your kind additional information.That is so helpful!!
That’s why in the story of the Beauty and the Beast on the scene when Bell’s father enters in the Beast’s creepy castle,he says “Is anyone here?”
That’s why in the story of the Beauty and the Beast on the scene when Bell’s father enters in the Beast’s creepy castle,he says “Is anyone here?”
- English (US)
@lilylily2020 Yes, that's actually another interesting case of "anyone" vs "someone"..
"Is anyone here?" is used to say "I don't know whether this place is empty, or whether there are people here, so I want to find out if there are any people here"
"Is someone here?" is sometimes said when somebody wasn't expecting anyone to be there, but then suspects that there might actually be someone present (i.e. they heard a noise or something)
Highly-rated answerer
- Japanese
Thank you for your detailed explanation.
The choice between Anyone or Someone has apparently different meanings.
The choice between Anyone or Someone has apparently different meanings.

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