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Gu-Hoon Kwon Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

In what case can the object of "help" be omitted?

A month ago, Davinci’s Italian restaurant almost closed down due to a decrease in sales. Although the owner, Mr. Davinci, spent a lot of money improving the design of the restaurant, sales continued to decrease. Therefore, his wife suggested changing the background music from fast and loud jazz music to slower and softer piano music. With that change, people stayed longer, ordered more desserts and drinks, and spent more money. What Mrs. Davinci suggested helped save the restaurant.

In the passage above, what is omitted between the underlined "helped" and "save"? I think Mr. Davinci is. Am I right? And, in what case can the object of "help" be omitted?
  

Top answer

After help in the active voice, to , the infinitive particle is optional: He helped me [to] do it. To could be added after helped in your example, too. CB

— Cool Breeze

  • After help in the active voice, to , the infinitive particle is optional: He helped me [to] do it.
  • To could be added after helped in your example, too.
  • CB
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4 Answers
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After help in the active voice, to, the infinitive particle is optional:
He helped me [to] do it.
To could be added after helped in your example, too.

CB
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Nothing is omitted. 'Help' can be used intransitively. Your sentence has the idea of the suggestion of being of assistance in the saving of the restaurant.
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In the sentence in question, what is the role of "save" if the verb "helped" is used intransitively? Could you please explain the sentence more grammatically?
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Gu-Hoon KwonIn the sentence in question, what is the role of "save" if the verb "helped" is used intransitively? Could you please explain the sentence more grammatically?
I'm afraid I don't know the current preferred term for the infinitives in such constructions as:

I helped cook the dinner.
I helped to cook the dinner.
I hel
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