¿Alguien me echa una mano?

Question

Can someone lend me a hand? Why is "can" not needed here? ¿Alguien puede...."

Answer 1

Because you are trying to translate a phrase that actually hasn't the word "can=poder", although you can also say ¿Alguien me puede echar una mano?, and that will solve the problem.

"actually hasn't the word" → "doesn't actually have/use the word" - Izanoni1, Jan 26, 2011

Grammar note: When you combine two independent clauses (note on this below) with a conjunctive adverb (For example: although), the adverb should be preceded by a semicolon (;) and followed by a comma (,). - Izanoni1, Jan 26, 2011

Grammar note: Beginning your first clause with "because" makes it a fragment (an incomplete thought). To make it a complete thought, you would need to say something like: You can omit the word "can" because.... - Izanoni1, Jan 26, 2011

Answer 2

Can someone lend me a hand? Why is "can" not needed here?

Simple: Because Spanish is not English! What universal logic says that "can" (or any equivalent word) must be used in these cases for all languages?

¿Me ayudas a...? = Can you help me to...?

¿Me echas una mano? = Can you give me a hand?

¿Me pone una cerveza? (polite) = Can I have a beer?

The examples above are all requests, but requests in English require "can", if you check a dictionary, while in Spanish "poder" doesn't have that specific meaning, although it makes the request more polite by avoiding a direct question. This polite effect can also be achieved without "poder", but using a "usted" form instead, which is something that English doesn't have. In Spanish, normal direct requests can simply be made by asking something, which is something that sounds strange in English. In other languages I know, there is no need to use anything like "can" either.

But it implies the can either w ay right.? Like "¿Alguien me echa una mano? " or ¿Alguien me ayuda? and it's like "¿Alguien puede echarme una mano? ¿Alguien puede ayudarme?

I can take any English text (or in any language), and by interpreting things literally, misunderstand purposefully the real intended meaning of it. For example: "What is your name?" Answer: "The word people use to refer to me". A perfect and logical Spock-like answer... except for no one would have interpreted the question like that. Someone is getting change and you ask "Are you decent?", and the other person answers "Are you suggesting I am an indecent person?", taking it the literally, instead of colloquially. "How do you do?", "How do I do... what?" And so on, and so forth.

How often do you really ask questions like "Does anyone give me a hand?", as if you didn't know whether people give you a hand or not? It is a weird interpretation. No one would ever conceive it. Common sense in using Spanish discards that option, and sees it as a request instead.

Typo: "but using a..." → "by using a..." - Izanoni1, Jan 26, 2011

Answer 3

But it implies the can either w ay right.? Like "¿Alguien me echa una mano? " or ¿Alguien me ayuda? and it's like "¿Alguien puede echarme una mano? ¿Alguien puede ayudarme?

Well, mmm, ehhmm, yes , I don't see why not, either you write the word "poder" or not you are hoping that someone else has the time to help you - Dakie, Jan 26, 2011