Anonymous  +  412409 Fri, 31 Aug 07 10:19 PM 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. Anonymous

	Grammar Geek  +  412462 Sat, 01 Sep 07 12:34 AM 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 sense that you will reimburse the person for the purchase. Least ambiguous of all, of course, is "If I give you a few dollars, could you grab some apples for me while you're there?" With the second one (I bought him some apples) there is absolutely no sense that he has to pay for the apples. To the contrary, it sounds like a gift. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,683 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!

	Clive  +  412463 Sat, 01 Sep 07 12:38 AM 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 Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,668 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	Grammar Geek  +  412921 Sun, 02 Sep 07 04:33 AM 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 "Remind me to keep my receipt" makes it clear you're getting reimbursed, regardless of the phrasing. Grammar Geek Grammar

	Clive  +  413301 Sun, 02 Sep 07 09:47 PM 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. Best wishes, Clive Clive