Usage of the verb 'help'
In Oxford Learner's Dictionary, there's this second definition of 'help': "http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/help_1?q=help".
Under this definition are five examples, of which only three relevant ones are shown here:
It helped being able to talk about it.
help (to) do something
This should help (to) reduce the pain.
We need new measures to help (to) fight terrorism.
Does this mean that you can have either the '-ing' form or an infinitive form with or without 'to' to express the same meaning?
That is, can you say these instead of the examples?
It helped (to) be able to talk about it.
This should help reducing the pain.
We need new measures to help fighting terrorism.
If not, how to distinguish the first example from the other two?
Top answer
No, "help" requires an infinitival clause as complement, not a gerund-participial one. So your second and third examples are ungrammatical..
- No, "help" requires an infinitival clause as complement, not a gerund-participial one.
- So your second and third examples are ungrammatical..
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No, "help" requires an infinitival clause as complement, not a gerund-participial one.
So your second and third examples are ungrammatical..
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