Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[leslie]

Hi,

Could you please help me (with/in/by?) this question? I'm so puzzled by the usage of 'with/in/by' after verb help. Is there a way to tell the differences among 'with','in', and 'by'? If some sentences of each question are correct, do they mean the same?

Which is grammatically correct and natural?

1.
A. He helped her in taking a test for her.
B. He helped her in taking a test.
C. He helped her with taking a test for her.
D. He helped her with taking a test.
D. He helped her by taking a test for her.

2.
A. He helped her in learning English.
B. He helped her with learning English.
B. He helped her with her homework.
C. He helped her in her homework.
D. He helped her by doing her homework.
E. He helped her in doing her homewor.


Thank you very much for your help.

Leslie

[mescalero]

Hi Leslie,

Nice to meet you. Here is how I would write the sentences:

1.
A. He helped her [by] taking a test for her.
B. He helped her in taking a test.
C. He helped her [by] taking a test for her.
D. He helped her with taking a test.
D. He helped her by taking a test for her.

2.
A. He helped her in learning English.
B. He helped her with learning English.
B. He helped her with her homework.
C. He helped her [with] her homework.
D. He helped her by doing her homework.
E. He helped her in doing her homework.

There is not an easy rule for this. These are really idioms that simply need to be memorized. But you will get there with practice.

I hope that helps. Best of luck.

Sincerely,
_________________
- Mike

Open English World
http://www.openenglishworld.com

[leslie]

Hi Mike,

Could you please explain the usage of 'with' and 'in' in the sentences you corrected for me? In each following pair, do they mean the same thing? If not, could you please explain the nuance? Thank you very much for your help.
Leslie

He helped her in taking a test.
He helped her with taking a test.

He helped her in learning English.
He helped her with learning English.

He helped her by doing her homework.
He helped her in doing her homework.

[mescalero]

Leslie:

In this context, there is no real difference between "with" and "in," and they therefore mean the same thing in the sentence pairs you have identified. In other words, you can use them interchangeably.

Hope that helps.

Best,
_________________
- Mike

Open English World
http://www.openenglishworld.com