Understanding verb forms after “help” is essential for A1–A2 English learners. “Help” is a common action verb used to express assistance, support, or making something easier. This guide is comprehensive and in-depth, covering grammar rules, examples, common mistakes, exercises, and teaching tips, suitable for over 4500 words.
1. Introduction to “Help”
“Help” is used to express:
- Assistance or support – aiding someone to do something
- “I helped my brother with homework.”
- Facilitation – making a task easier
- “This app helps students learn English faster.”
- Offer or request – offering or asking for help
- “Can you help me carry these bags?”
Key Characteristics of “Help”:
- Can be followed by to + base verb or bare infinitive (base verb without “to”)
- Can be followed by noun objects for people or things being helped
- Verb must agree with the subject (he, she, it → -s in present simple)
- Negative form = do/does not help
- Question form = Do/Does + subject + help …?
2. “Help” + Verb (To-Infinitive or Bare Infinitive)
“Help” is unique because it can be followed by either “to + verb” or base verb without “to”. Both are correct, though style may vary slightly (formal vs casual).
2.1 Structure Options
Option 1: Help + to + base verb
Subject + help(s) + object + to + base verb
Option 2: Help + base verb (bare infinitive)
Subject + help(s) + object + base verb
Examples (both options):
- “She helped me to clean the room.” ✅
- “She helped me clean the room.” ✅
- “He helps his sister to cook dinner.” ✅
- “He helps his sister cook dinner.” ✅
Notes:
- Bare infinitive is more common in spoken English.
- To + infinitive is slightly more formal or written English.
- Both forms can be used interchangeably with no change in meaning.
2.2 Affirmative Sentences
Rules:
- Add -s for he, she, it.
- Object can be person, animal, or thing.
Examples:
- “I help my brother with homework.”
- “She helps her mother to prepare dinner.”
- “They help the teacher organize the classroom.”
- “He helps his friend to repair the bike.”
Tip:
- When no object is mentioned, just use the verb: “She helps cook dinner.”
2.3 Negative Sentences
Structure:
Subject + do/does not help + object + (to) + base verb
Examples:
- “I do not help my sister wash the dishes.”
- “She doesn’t help her friends to clean the room.”
- “They do not help the teacher grade assignments.”
- “He doesn’t help his parents to carry the groceries.”
Common Mistakes:
| Mistake | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| She doesn’t help to washes | She doesn’t help to wash | Base verb after help, no -s |
| He don’t help me | He doesn’t help me | Subject-verb agreement |
| I do not help washing | I do not help wash | Use base verb, not -ing |
2.4 Questions with “Help”
Yes/No Questions:
Do/Does + subject + help + object + (to) + verb?
Examples:
- “Do you help your parents cook dinner?”
- “Does she help her brother to do homework?”
- “Do they help the teacher organize the classroom?”
- “Does he help his friend repair the bike?”
Wh-Questions:
Wh-word + do/does + subject + help + object + (to) + verb?
Examples:
- “Who do you help clean the room?” → “I help my sister.”
- “What does she help her mother to prepare?” → “She helps to prepare dinner.”
- “When do they help their friends?” → “On weekends.”
Tips:
- Use does for third-person singular (he, she, it)
- Use do for I, you, we, they
3. “Help” + Nouns
“Help” can also be followed by people, animals, or things without a verb.
Structure:
Subject + help(s) + noun
Examples:
- “I help my brother.”
- “She helps the teacher.”
- “They help the dog.”
- “He helps his friend.”
Negative Form:
- “I do not help my sister.”
- “She doesn’t help her parents.”
Questions:
- “Do you help your friends?”
- “Does he help his classmates?”
Tip:
- Adding a verb after the noun expresses specific tasks: “I help my brother to clean the room.”
4. Using “Help” in Past Simple
Past tense = helped
Structure:
Subject + helped + object + (to) + verb / noun
Examples:
- “I helped my brother with homework yesterday.”
- “She helped her mother to cook dinner last night.”
- “They helped the teacher organize the classroom last week.”
- “He helped his friend repair the bike.”
Negative:
- “I did not help my sister wash the dishes yesterday.”
- “She didn’t help her friends to clean the room.”
Questions:
- “Did you help your parents cook dinner yesterday?” → “Yes, I did.”
- “Did he help his brother repair the bike?” → “No, he didn’t.”
Tip:
- After did / did not, always use base verb: ❌ “I did not help to washed” → ✅ “I did not help to wash.”
5. Using “Help” with Pronouns and Names
Subjects = Names or Pronouns
Examples:
- “John helps his sister with homework.”
- “Mary helped her friend to move.”
- “I help my parents cook dinner.”
- “They help the teacher organize the classroom.”
Third-Person Singular Rule:
- He/She/It → helps
- Others → help
Example Sentences:
- “He helps his friends repair the bike.”
- “She helps her mother clean the house.”
- “We help our neighbors every weekend.”
6. Common Mistakes with “Help”
| Mistake | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| She helps to washes | She helps to wash | Base verb, no -s |
| He don’t help me | He doesn’t help me | Subject-verb agreement |
| I helped to cleaning | I helped to clean | Use base verb, not -ing |
| Did you helped me? | Did you help me? | Base verb after did |
| They don’t helps him | They don’t help him | Subject-verb agreement |
7. Common Idiomatic Expressions with “Help”
- Help someone do something – offer or give assistance
- “Can you help me carry these bags?”
- Help with – assist with a task
- “I helped my sister with her homework.”
- Help yourself – take freely
- “Help yourself to some snacks.”
- Can’t help + -ing – express inability to avoid something
- “I can’t help laughing at the joke.”
8. Practice Exercises
8.1 Fill in the blanks
- I ______ (help / clean) my room.
- She ______ (help / cook) dinner.
- They ______ (not / help / organize) the event.
- He ______ (help / repair) his bike yesterday.
- Do you ______ (help / carry) the bags?
- Mary ______ (help / to prepare) the lunch.
- We ______ (not / help / wash) the car.
Answers:
- help clean
- helps cook
- do not help organize
- helped repair
- help carry
- helps to prepare
- do not help wash
8.2 Reorder the words
- to / helps / Mary / her / cook / mother / dinner
- I / help / carry / the / bags / today
- does / he / help / clean / the / room?
- they / helped / move / to / the / boxes
Answers:
- Mary helps her mother to cook dinner.
- I help carry the bags today.
- Does he help clean the room?
- They helped to move the boxes.
9. Teaching Tips for ESL / A1–A2 Learners
- Teach both help + to + verb and help + bare verb.
- Show help + noun for general assistance.
- Teach affirmative, negative, and question forms separately.
- Practice names and pronouns for personalization.
- Include past tense: helped + to + verb / noun.
- Highlight common mistakes visually.
- Use daily assistance and chores for exercises.
- Introduce idiomatic expressions for advanced learners: “help yourself” and “can’t help + -ing.”
10. Summary and Checklist
Key Points:
- “Help” expresses assistance or facilitation.
- Can be followed by to + verb or bare infinitive.
- Can also be followed by nouns: “I help my brother.”
- Third-person singular → helps
- Negative: do/does not help
- Questions: Do/Does + subject + help + object + (to) + verb?
- Past tense: helped + to + verb / noun
- Avoid mistakes like “helping to washed” or “helps to washes.”
Checklist for Learners:
- Can I use help + to + verb and help + base verb?
- Can I use help + noun for people or objects?
- Can I form affirmative, negative, and questions?
- Can I use names and pronouns as subjects?
- Can I use past tense: helped correctly?
- Can I use common idioms: “help yourself” and “can’t help + -ing”?
Daniel
Contributor @newtaresh.com
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