The use of the verb "to help"
I have some doubts about the correct use of the verb "to help".
At times, I find constructions such as "to help somebody to do something" (e.g. he helped his friend to escape).
At other times, the construction omits the "to": "to help somebody do something" (e.g. I helped her find the book).

Are these two construction both correct? Or do they have different shades of meaning?

Thank you!

Question

The use of the verb "to help"
I have some doubts about the correct use of the verb "to help".
At times, I find constructions such as "to help somebody to do something" (e.g. he helped his friend to escape).
At other times, the construction omits the "to": "to help somebody do something" (e.g.  I helped her find the book).

Are these two construction both correct? Or do they have different shades of meaning?

Thank you!

Answer

They are the same. For some reason, a lot of people have asked this question recently.

The verb 'help' sometimes functions as what is known as a causative verb. Causative verbs are followed by the base verb, or in other words, no 'to' is needed, and no conjugation. Other examples of causative constructions are : eg 'He let me go'  'He made them work'.

At other times, 'help' is followed by 'to' and the infinitive, but there is no difference in meaning between these forms.

I hope that was the answer you wanted to hear!

لا تفوّت فرصة تعلّم لغة جديدة وأنت مرتاح في منزلك. تصفّح مجموعتنا المختارة من مدرّسي اللغات ذوي الخبرة وسجّل في درسك الأول الآن!