Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ESL Girl]

I need someone to correct me on this:

the verb "help"

helps + bare infinitive (without "to")
or
helps + infinitive

A: "Genetic cloning helps [us] cure genetic diseases."

B: "Genetic cloning helps us to cure genetic diseases."

I think A, co-teacher says it's B.

[Lonewolf]

In this case your both right. The infinitive is optional. Remember spoken English is not the same as written English.

[ESL Girl]

Well, if it's the case that they're both right, then A is correct b/c it avoids B's wordiness.

Question: "helps" is unique b/c it can be both + infinitive & + bare infinitive?

I would like a definitive answer on this. It is much appreciated - the internet only takes me so far.

[thegadfly]

It helps to read the fine print. It helps to read the directions first. It helps to assuage his guilt.

It helps me forget. It helps me remember. It helps you understand. It helps it put the lotion on the skin.

Since my internet search had nothing definitive, I would say the word help usually takes the full infinitive form, but when there is an indirect object, the bare infinitive is acceptable in speaking...so I would say that although both might "sound" ok, the full infinitive ought to be (ought be?) used, as it "sounds" more formal...you say wordy, I say formal....


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinitive

[fancypants]

make, help, and let are causative verbs.

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/caus.htm/

make and let never have a "to" with them but with "help" you can add the "to" or not, it goes both ways.

this is what's confusing for students cos they are always looking for hard and fast grammar rules and once they learn about the infinitive, they want to stick it on every verb but it won't work with make and let.