¿Que puedo hacer yo por tí?

Question

It seems wierd with the yo in it. Is this a correct sentence? It's from a show, and Google shows 35,000 hits. Gracias. ¿Que puedo hacer para tí? Is what I would have said. I wonder why the "yo" and the "por" (although I've heard por used for para in the personal sense once in a while)

Answer 1

"Qué puedo hacer para tí" means something different. What can I prepare / make for you. It's what the friendly cook would ask you if you walk in your neighborhood diner for a bite to eat.

The "yo" in this case is used to add emphasis.

Let's say that I notice you have been working hard and you look tired. So I approach you:

"Hi, Jeezle!"

"Hi Gekko. What can I do for you?"

"No, no - what can I do for you? You look tired!"

"Hola Gekko, ¿qué puedo hacer por ti?"

"No, no - ¿qué puedo hacer yo por ti...?"

There are other ways to use that emphasis, but that's the general idea.

Answer 2

What can I do for you?

Answer 3

I believe that this translates as: "What can I do for you?"

Answer 4

The only apparent excuse for the "yo" would be to make a line in a song fit with the tune. Other than that "¿que sé yo?"

:-) What have you been smoking lately? - Gekkosan, Jun 1, 2010

Answer 5

What can I do for you?

If you want to say what can I do for you? /How can I help you ? You can say:

¿ En qué puedo servirle(s)* ? = How can I help you? ( o servirte*)

o ¿ En qué puedo ayudarte (ayudarle (s) ) ?

o ¿ Cómo te (le) puedo ayudar ?

Otherwise, follow what Gekkosan has advised

I hope that this helps

Answer 6

Wait, so "que puedo hacer para tí" isn't "what can I do for you?" "Que puedo hacer para tí" is only "What can I make for you"? but with the por, "Que puedo hacer por tí" it means do and not make? First time I've ever heard of the por and para imparting different meanings on the same pronoun. I always just thought the love songs were using por because of some unknown reason. I still don't get the reason why. I get the second part though, yo por ti.....