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Questions & Answers about Bạn có thể giúp tôi không?
Why does the sentence Bạn có thể giúp tôi không? end with không?
In Vietnamese, không is often added at the end of a sentence to turn it into a yes/no question. By placing không at the end of Bạn có thể giúp tôi, you are asking “Can you help me?” in a polite question form.
What does the phrase có thể mean in this context?
Có thể literally means “can” or “to be able to.” It expresses the ability or possibility of doing something, much like saying “can” in English. In Bạn có thể giúp tôi không?, it is asking about the possibility of the listener helping you.
Why do we use bạn instead of other pronouns like anh, chị, or em?
Bạn is a general, friendly pronoun that can refer to a peer or someone whose age or status you are unsure about. Anh (older brother), chị (older sister), or em (younger sibling) depend on the relative ages of the speakers. If you know someone is older than you, for example, you might say Anh có thể giúp em không? instead. But bạn works in most casual situations to mean “you” as a friend.
Is there any difference between saying Bạn có thể giúp tôi không? and Bạn có thể giúp tôi được không??
Including được adds an extra shade of meaning, emphasizing permission or possibility—it’s like saying “Can you help me successfully?” in English. However, the overall meaning remains similar. Both are polite ways to ask for help.
Can I omit bạn and just say Có thể giúp tôi không??
Yes, you can drop bạn and say Có thể giúp tôi không?. It’s still understandable but might sound more casual or slightly abrupt. Including bạn makes it clearer and more personable that you are speaking directly to the person.