What is Help in English? Help with grammar and sentence structure

Help is very common in English, frequently appearing in daily conversations. Let's explore the knowledge about the usage of Help in English in the article below!

I. What is Help in English?

Help, is pronounced as /help/, can function as a verb, noun, and interjection. The Help meaning in English is:

• Help acts as a verb, meaning: to make it possible or easier for someone to do something, by doing part of the work yourself or by providing advice, money, support, etc.. Example: Can I help you get that? 

• Help acts as a noun, meaning: the act of helping another person. Example: Do you need any help with those boxes? 

• Help acts as an interjection. Example: Help me! Someone is shouting. 

II. Common usages of Help in English

Let's explore the common usages of Help in English together!

1. Idiom: help oneself

Structure:

S + help + oneself + to + something

It means: to serve oneself as much food or drink as one would like; to take something without permission. Example:

• Jenny helps herself to a piece of cake. 

• John helped himself to the money on the table. 

2. Help structure combined with with V-infinitive, to V, V-ing

Structure:

S + help + (sb) + V-infinitive/ to V

S + help + somebody + with something/ V-ing

Example:

• You can help John find him a job. 

• He helped her to carry the heavy boxes upstairs. 

• Can you help me with doing the laundry? 

• Should students help with cleaning tasks at school? 

3. Help in passive voice

Structure:

S + help + O + V-inf…

➔ S + V to be + helped + to Vinf + … + (by O).

Example:

• Harry helped Anna clean this desk. ➔ Anna was helped to clean this desk by Harry. 

• John often helps Linda solve difficult problems. ➔ Linda is often helped to solve the difficult problem by John. 

4. Can’t/Couldn’t help

Structure: 

S + can’t/couldn’t help + something/ doing something

It means: to not be able to control or stop something. Example:

• Sara can’t help being nervous whenever she has a test. 

• Jenny can’t help falling in love with John. 

• I know she can’t help her feelings, but she still shouldn’t favour one child over another. 

II. What prepositions are used with Help in English?

Let's explore the list of prepositions used with Help in English below!

1. Help +Off/ on

Structure: 

S + help + somebody + off (on) with something…

It means: to do something that makes it easier for (someone) to put on or take off (clothing, shoes, etc.). Example:

• John helped Anna off with her shoes. 

• Jenny helped Sara on with the T–shirt. 

2. Help + Out

Structure: 

S + help + somebody + out…

It means: ​to help somebody, especially in a difficult situation. Example: 

• John is willing to help the company out when they have a staff shortage. 

• He always helps his neighbors out when they need a hand.

3. Help + with

Structure:

S + help (somebody) with something ….. 

It means: to aid someone or something in managing or handling someone or something else. Example:

• She helped him with his debt. 

• She helped her friend with the math homework. 

IV. Some words/phrases/idioms used with Help in English

Let's list some words/phrases/idioms that are used with Help in English in the table below.

V. Synonyms of Help in English

Let's list the synonyms of Help in English below!

VI. Some notes when using Help with grammar and sentence structure

• In cases where the object of Help is the same as the object of the verb that comes after it, we can omit the object after Help and "to" of the following verb. Example: The body fat of the bears will help (them to) keep them alive in hibernation.

• Additionally, "people to" can be omitted as it is an impersonal pronoun. Example: This vaccine helps (people to) recover more quickly.

VII. Exercises on using Help in English

To apply the usage of Help in English that you've learned above, let's do a small exercise together:

1. Exercise: Conjugate the verbs in the sentences

1. Jenny will be helped (fix) ________ the laptop tomorrow.

2. Peter helped me ________ (repair) this chair and _______ (clean) the floor.

3. Anna helps me (do) ________ all the exercises.

4. Peter (help) ______ his grandmother cross the street.  

5. John is so sleepy. He can’t help (fall) ________ asleep.

6. John’s appearance can help (take) _____ away from the pain.

7. “Thank you for helping me (finish) ________ this campaign” Anna said to me.

8. Sara’s been (help) ______ herself to the food.

9. Jenny can’t help (laugh) _______ at her little dog.

10. Anna can’t help (wonder) ______ why Peter didn’t tell the truth.

11. Peter helped Sara (find) _____ her things.

12. May I help you (wash) ______ clothes?

2. Answer

PREP has compiled for you all detailed and comprehensive information about Help in English. PREP hopes you have gained interesting grammar knowledge!