She asked the librarian for help finding a book.

Meaning: She spoke to the librarian to get help finding the book she wanted.

Choice of Words: Librarian is the person who works in a library and helps people find books, asked means to say something to someone in order to get information or help, and finding means to discover or locate something.

Alternative Expressions

The girl inquired of the library assistant for assistance in locating a tome.

Meaning: This sentence means the same thing as the first sentence, but it uses more formal language.

Choice of Words: The girl is the subject of the sentence, and it refers to the person who is asking for help. Inquired is a more formal word for asked, and it means that the person made a request. Of is a preposition that means that the person is asking someone for something. The library assistant is the person who is being asked for help, and assistance is a more formal word for help. In locating is the present participle of the verb locate, and it means that the person is looking for something. A tome is a more formal word for book.

The young lady approached the custodian of the literary repository and politely requested her aid in procuring a volume.

Meaning: This sentence means the same thing as the first two sentences, but it uses the most formal language.

Choice of Words: The young lady is the subject of the sentence, and it refers to the person who is asking for help. Approached is a more formal word for asked, and it means that the person came near to someone. The custodian of the literary repository is a more formal way of saying the librarian, and it refers to the person who is in charge of the library. Politely is an adverb that means that the person was respectful when they asked for help. Requested is a more formal word for asked, and it means that the person made a request. Her aid means that the person is asking for the librarian's help. In procuring is the present participle of the verb procure, and it means that the person is trying to get something. A volume is a more formal word for book.

Related Expressions