I would like to learn the use of do me a favour.
1- Do me a favour and take this tea.
2- Do me a favour by taking this tea.
Are they same?
Tom
Hi Tom,
Yes, they mean the same and simply mean: please me and take or please me by taking.
Alan
When I read these words:
Do me a favor and take this tea.
Do me a favor by taking this tea.
I get the idea that the speaker dislikes and doesn’t want the tea and wants someone else to take it away from him. It’s something like…
Do me a favor and take these cookies home. If you don’t, I’ll eat all of them myself.
“Do me a favor” usually involves someone going to some trouble for the person making the request, either to make him happy, or to take some problem away from him. It’s not usually used when offering hospitality, at least in my part of the world.
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Yes, do not think that these are simple offers of tea, Tom. They are more likely a request to carry the cup for the speaker.
.
Hi Tom
My understanding would also be that your sentences have nothing to do with the speaker hospitably offering tea. The speaker is requesting someone to do something (in command form).
I agree with MM — without any other context, it sounds like the speaker wants someone to carry a cup of tea or maybe the teapot.
Amy
Many, many thanks to all of you!
Amy, why do you think Alan agreed with me first? Or maybe he also took the same meaning that you people have taken!
Tom
Hi Tom,
I’m sorry I don’t seem to have made myself clear. What I said was: Do me a favour means please me. (Please in this sense is do something to help me)
You therefore have two constructions:
Do me a favour and do something for me like: Do me a favour and help me lift this bag
or
Do me a favour by doing something for me like: Do me a favour by lifting these bags for me.
I can’t really see how this can be misconstrued or convoluted, can you?
Alan
.
Unless we start calling each other names, Tom, we are usually just adding additional detail to what the previous advisor has said.
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