help
Primary: verbCan function as: verb, noun
Zero derivation between verb and noun forms
🔊 Pronunciation
/help/
Syllables: help
Stress: single syllable
Standard pronunciation consistent across varieties
👨👩👧👦 Word Family
| Word Class | Forms |
|---|---|
| Verbs | help, helps, helped, helping |
| Nouns | help, helper, helpfulness |
| Adjectives | helpful, helpless |
| Adverbs | helpfully, helplessly |
Regular morphological patterns with -ful/-less suffixation
🎯 Verb Forms
| Infinitive: | to help |
| Base form: | help |
| 3rd person singular: | helps |
| Past simple: | helped |
| Past participle: | helped |
| Present participle: | helping |
| Gerund: | helping |
📖 Meanings & Definitions
Noun Meanings
1
assistance or support given to someone
Countability: uncountable
“I need your help with this project”
“Thank you for all your help”
Common collocations: offer help, need help, get help
Synonyms: assistance, aid, support
Antonyms: hindrance, obstruction
neutralgeneral
2
a person or thing that provides assistance
Countability: countable
“She's been such a help in the office”
Common collocations: domestic help, kitchen help
Synonyms: assistant, aide
neutralgeneral
Verb Meanings
1
make it easier for someone to do something by offering services or resources
Aspect: action | Continuous: Yes
“Can you help me move this furniture?”
“She helped her sister with homework”
Synonyms: assist, aid, support
neutralgeneral
2
improve a situation or problem
Aspect: action | Continuous: Yes
“Exercise helps reduce stress”
Synonyms: alleviate, improve
neutral
🔧 Verb Patterns
help + object
“I helped my friend”
Note: Basic transitive pattern
help + object + infinitive
“She helped me to understand”
Note: 'to' is optional: 'helped me understand'
help + with + object
“Can you help with the dishes?”
Note: Common prepositional pattern
Transitivity
Type: both
Passive possible: Yes
Passive examples:
“I was helped by my colleagues”
🤝 Collocations
Verb + Noun
Adjective + Noun
⚠️ Common Errors
❌ He helped to me→✓ He helped me
No preposition needed with direct object
Common for: Romance language speakers
Medium impact
❌ Can you help me for moving?→✓ Can you help me (to) move?
Wrong complementation pattern
🌍 Etymology
Origin: Old English 'helpan'
Original meaning: “to aid, assist, support”
Development: Maintained consistent meaning throughout history
Related words in other languages: German 'helfen', Dutch 'helpen'