"can help" vs "can help to"

Question

"can help" vs "can help to"

Both 'can help to' and 'can help' are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Can help to' is followed by a verb in its base form and is used to indicate the action that will be assisted. On the other hand, 'can help' is followed by a noun or pronoun and is used to indicate the recipient of the assistance.

Last Updated: March 22, 2024

Use 'can help' when you want to indicate the recipient of the assistance. It is followed by a noun or pronoun.

Examples:

I can help you with your homework.
She can help him with the project.
He can help them with the presentation.
They can help us with the problem.
We can help her with the task.

Alternatives:

can assist
can lend a hand
can be of help
can support
can aid

Use 'can help to' when you want to indicate the action that will be assisted. It is followed by a verb in its base form.

Examples:

I can help to clean the house.
She can help to organize the event.
He can help to fix the car.
They can help to improve the situation.
We can help to achieve our goals.

Alternatives:

can assist in
can aid in
can contribute to
can support in
can be of assistance in

Answer 1

can help

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It is followed by a noun or pronoun to indicate the recipient of the assistance.

Answer 2

can help to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It is followed by a verb in its base form to indicate the action that will be assisted.

"can help" vs "can help to"

can help

can help to

Related Comparisons