Offers of assistance in phone calls

The way people make offers in phone calls depends on how the need for the offer arises. 

When they call in order to make the offer, they almost always do so in the form If X (then) Y, such as in the classic If there's anything we can do let us know. Occasionally, people use this if-containing form with the verb wonder (I wondered if you might like his address).

Other offers are interactionally generated, as in the topic of the recipient's need or problem crops up during the phone call. 

• An explicitly stated problem is usually immediately followed by an offer that makes use of first person subjects and the model verb will or can (Can I bring some pies or something?). 

• An offer to an implicit problem, however, is not made until some time after it arises, and is generally made by way of Do you want/need me to X.

Why might the forms of interactionally generated offers differ?

For offers made to implied problems, the form Do you want me to X puts the focus on the recipient as an agent (you) – one who wants something from the offerer.  

• If such an offer was made immediately after an explicitly-stated problem, it would sound as if the offerer thought that the recipient was 'fishing' for an offer. 

In contrast, offers in response to overt problems usually put the focus on the offerer (I) – I'll take, I can bring etc. 

• In this case, offerers make it clear that they are doing the offering by making themselves the subject of the offer.