@rah 24 August 2021 more from that month

An annoying concept from American English is the modal negative and sadly it is creeping into British English too. Let me illustrate. 'Let me see if I can't help you.' - WELL IF YOU CAN'T I WILL ASK SOMEBODY ELSE. GOOD DAY SIR! Why not just say. 'Let me see if I CAN help you.' It makes more sense! I have a few more of these if you are interested, and I know that British English is not faultless. After all we gave the world the future perfect continuous - which has been roundly rejected by American English!