grammar · neutral

help + (to) + V

Band 5-6speakingtask2

Use to say someone assists another. 'to' after 'help' is optional: both 'help do' and 'help to do' are acceptable.

Examples

“Could you help me carry these boxes?”

“She helped him to find a job after graduation.”

“Both forms are correct: 'help someone do' and 'help someone to do'.”

Band 8 sentence

“Volunteers helped to refurbish the community centre over the weekend.”

Collocations

  • help someone (to) + V
  • help with + noun

Common mistakes

She helped to solving the problem.→She helped solve the problem.

He helped me to fixing the car.→He helped me fix the car.

Say it for a higher band

5help someone + V-ing→6help someone to + V→7+help + (to) + V

Synonyms

assist someone in + V-ing

Easily confused

assist someone in + V-ing

“The consultant assisted the company in improving its procedures.”

Related words

look forward to + V-ingtry + V-ing / try to + Vfor + somebody + to + Vavoid + V-ingbe likely to + Vbegin / start + V-ing / to + Vprevent + somebody + from + V-ingturn out + to + V

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Gerunds & infinitives

Learn it with its set