“Help” is a very useful word to know. To
borrow one of its own expressions, we can make a sentence like:
The word “Help” is
such a big help to English learners.
Aside from “big help,” you can
also say:
a | big | help to learners
a | great | help
a | tremendous | help
a | real | help
etc.
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Of course there are many ways to
use the word “Help,” but the most common is to use it like this:
Help + somebody
+ to Verb
That’s right. In this case it’s
similar to other words like “want,” “allow,” “ask,” “tell,” “expect” etc.
But unlike them, “Help” can be
used with or without “to” :
Help + somebody
+ to Verb
or
Help + somebody
+ Verb
For example,
She helped me to win. = Ok
She helped me win. = Ok
Please help them to find it. = Ok
Please help them find it. = Ok
“Help” is always followed by the
Infinitive form, with or without “to.” So, don't use “Help” with the V+ing:
She helped me winning. = X
Please help me finding it. = X
In fact, there is only one
situation where we can combine “Help” and V+ing. It’s inside the fixed
expression “Can’t Help” which I will teach you later.
Alone
I taught you how to use “Help”
with an Object or a receiver of the action.
Help + somebody + to Verb
But you can also use “Help”
alone. Without an Object.
He helped me fix the bathroom sink. = Ok
He helped fix the bathroom
sink. = Ok
Usually, we use this pattern (alone)
when we want to talk about a situation that gets better or easier.
Ex.
It would help if we
had more subway lines.
The President’s new directive
will help fuel the economy.
The visual aids in
your presentation help to clarify the idea.
My hands-on training
helped a lot.
With a Noun
If you don’t want to use a Verb,
you can also use a Noun with “Help.”
Like this:
Help + somebody
+ with + Noun
Just don’t forget to put the
Preposition “with.”
Ex.
My brother helps me with my homework.
His secretary helped
the boss with his schedule.
Can you help us with dinner?
Expressions
There are also many expressions that
have the word “Help” inside. Here are some of the most common:
(1) Please help yourself (to something)
This expression is similar to “Please
have or take some.” We use this when we are offering food to somebody. This
means that we want the other person to get some food without asking permission,
to feel free to take some food.
Ex.
Please help yourself
to more cake.
Why don’t you help yourselves
to some orange juice?
(2) Can’t help + Ving
Like I said, this is the only
expression in which we can combine “Help” with the V+ing. 90% of the time, “Help”
goes together with the Infinitive (to V).
“Can’t help” is a bit confusing for some people. But if you try to remember the exact meaning of this expression, you
will be able to use it easily.
We use “Can’t help” when we want
to say that somebody can’t control their feelings. They can’t stop doing
something. We use this expression to talk about old bad habits that are
difficult for us to change.
There’s an old song titled “Can’t
Help Falling in Love,” originally sung by American singer Elvis Presley. But you
might have heard a different version of this song because it has been covered
by many artists.
Here’s one version of the song from singer Michael Bublé:
Here are the complete lyrics of the song. The same words are repeated in the song so it’s short:
Wise men say only fools rush in
but I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay
would it be a sin
If I can't
help falling in love with you
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
some things are meant to be
take my hand, take my whole life too
for I can't help falling in love with you
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
some things are meant to be
take my hand, take my whole life too
for I can't help falling in love with you
As you can see, “Can’t help V+ing” means that you don’t want to do something, but you can’t control your actions or ideas.
Here are more examples:
They can’t help thinking
that he is a liar.
I can’t help
wondering if she’s pregnant.
He can’t help smoking
when nobody’s around.
(3) It can’t be helped
We use this expression when we
want to say that there’s nothing we can do to change a bad situation.
For example,
She has to take a
leave of absence. It can’t be helped.
Well, I guess it can’t
be helped. We’ll have to finish this project with less funding.
(4) Help!
We shout this to call people and
to ask them for help when we are in danger.
Here’s a cartoon showing the
situation. But mind you, this cartoon is just for humor.
:-D
(5) Give somebody a hand, Lend a hand, Help out etc.
These expressions are used more casually.
Ex.
Can I give you a hand
with those bags?