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English Grammar Lessons And Worksheets

Help, Can’t Help

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After help, we can use object + infinitive.

  • He helped her to lift the box.

We often use the infinitive without to. This is rather informal.

  • He helped her lift the box.
can’t help

If you say that you can’t help doing something, you mean that you can’t stop yourself doing it.

  • Sorry I broke the cup – I couldn’t help it.
  • I can’t help wondering what I should do next.

Can’t help can be followed by but + infinitive without to. The meaning is the same as can’t help — ing. This structure is common in American English.

  • I can’t help but wonder what I should do next.

Related posts:

  1. American And British English | Differences In Usage
  2. In Case vs. If
  3. Using Get
  4. Contractions | List Of Contracted Forms In English
  5. Correct Use Of Some Conjunctions
  6. Infinitives Without To
  7. Infinitives and ing forms after love, like, hate and prefer
  8. But As A Conjunction

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Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I am Manjusha. This is my blog where I give English grammar lessons and worksheets.

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