Learn Hardcore Chinese: shéi kěyǐ gěi tā shuǐ?

可以: permission/acceptability or feasibility. 谁可以给她水？ = Who may/can (is allowed/available to) give her water?
能: capability or situational possibility. 谁能给她水？ = Who is able to give her water (e.g., has water/free hands)?
会: learned skill or likelihood/willingness. 谁会给她水？ often means “Who will (be the one likely/willing to) give her water?” It’s not about permission.

Why isn’t there 吗 at the end?

Wh-questions in Chinese use the wh-word in place (谁, 什么, 哪儿, etc.) and do not take 吗. So 谁可以给她水？ is complete. 吗 is for yes/no questions, like 你可以给她水吗？

Do I need to say “some water”? Is bare 水 okay?

Bare 水 is understandable, especially in urgent or casual speech, but it’s more natural to indicate quantity:

谁可以给她点儿水？ (a little water)
谁可以给她一些水？ (some water)
谁可以给她一杯/一瓶水？ (a cup/bottle of water)

Is 给 a verb or a preposition here?

Here it’s the main verb “to give”: 给 + recipient + thing → 给她水.
It can also act like a preposition (“for/to”) before another verb: 给她拿水 (get water for her).
Alternate “give” wording: 把水给她 (put the water to her).

Where does 谁 go in the sentence?

It sits in the normal subject position: 谁可以给她水？
You can also emphasize with a cleft: 给她水的是谁？
But you cannot say 可以谁给她水.

How do I pronounce this (tones), and are there tone changes?

谁 shéi (2nd) — often heard as shéi (standard), also shuí (variant).
可以 kěyǐ (3rd + 3rd), but 3rd–3rd sandhi → pronounced kéyǐ (2nd + 3rd).
给 gěi (3rd).
她 tā (1st).
水 shuǐ (3rd).

Is 谁 pronounced shéi or shuí?

Both occur; shéi is standard in modern Mandarin, shuí is also accepted (more formal/literary or dialectally influenced). You’ll commonly hear shéi.

Do 她 and 他 sound the same? How do I know which one it is?

Yes, 她/他/它 are all pronounced tā (1st tone). Writing distinguishes them (female/male/it), but in speech context tells you which “tā” is meant.

Why doesn’t Chinese change “she” to “her”? Is 她 the right form?

Chinese pronouns don’t change for case. 她 works as both subject and object:

她喝水。 (She drinks water.)
给她水。 (Give her water.) Use 她的 for “her + noun”: 她的水 (her water).

Should I add 喝 to show the water is for drinking?

Often yes for clarity/naturalness:

谁可以给她水喝？ (Who can give her water to drink?)
谁可以给她倒点水？ (Who can pour her some water?)

Can I use the 把 construction?

Yes, especially if referring to specific water:

谁可以把水给她？ This focuses on the water being given to her (the water is topical/known).

How do I ask this more politely or naturally in real life?

有谁能帮忙给她倒点水吗？ (Could someone help pour her some water?)
谁能不能给她拿点儿水？ (Can someone please get her some water?)
Adding 帮忙/麻烦 softens the request.

Where’s the “to” before “her”? Shouldn’t it be “to her”?

Chinese encodes “to” in the verb 给. The recipient follows 给: 给她水 = give her water.
Don’t say 给水她. If you want to put “water” first, use 把: 把水给她.

Can I drop the subject and make it a command?

Yes. Imperatives often drop the subject:

给她点水！
麻烦给她一杯水！

How would people answer this question?

Volunteering: 我可以。/ 我来吧。/ 我来给她倒一杯。
Negative/practical: 我不能。/ 我这儿没水。/ 我不方便。

Is spacing between characters normal in Chinese?

No. Standard Chinese writing has no spaces between characters/words. You’d write: 谁可以给她水？
Spaces are sometimes added in teaching materials for clarity.

How do I say “Anyone can give her water” or “No one can give her water”?

Anyone: 谁都可以给她水。
No one: 谁也不能给她水。