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A1 verb 12분 분량

to help

예시 to help 30초 만에
설명 to help in your Level:
At the A1 level, 'to help' is one of the first verbs you learn because it is essential for basic survival and social interaction. At this stage, you use it in very simple, direct sentences to ask for assistance or offer it. Most A1 learners use 'help' followed by a person and then a simple task. For example, 'Can you help me?' or 'I help my mother.' The focus is on immediate physical needs or simple chores. You might not yet use complex grammar like 'help me with...' or 'can't help doing...', and that is perfectly fine. The goal is to convey the basic idea of needing or giving support in everyday situations, like shopping, asking for directions, or doing housework. It is a 'utility' word that helps you navigate a new language environment when you don't have all the specific vocabulary yet.
As an A2 learner, you begin to use 'to help' in slightly more varied contexts. You start to move beyond just physical help and begin to describe helping with specific tasks using the 'help with' structure (e.g., 'I help my friend with English'). You also become more comfortable using the verb in different tenses, such as the past tense ('He helped me yesterday') or the future ('I will help you tomorrow'). At this level, you might also encounter the word in common polite phrases used in stores or restaurants, such as 'How can I help you?' You are beginning to understand that helping is a social contract and you can use the word to build better relationships with people around you by offering your assistance in a more natural, conversational way.
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At the B1 intermediate level, you start to use 'to help' to describe more abstract concepts. It's no longer just about carrying boxes; it's about helping someone's career, helping the environment, or helping to solve a problem. You understand the grammatical flexibility of 'help', knowing that you can say 'help me do' or 'help me to do'. You also begin to use common phrasal verbs like 'help out' which sounds more natural in casual conversation. B1 learners can also use 'help' in the context of advice and suggestions, such as 'This book might help you understand the history of the city.' You are moving from the 'what' of helping to the 'how' and 'why', being able to explain the benefits of the assistance being provided.
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By the B2 level, you should be able to use 'to help' with a high degree of nuance. You can use it in idiomatic expressions like 'I can't help but feel...' or 'It can't be helped.' You are also able to distinguish between 'help', 'assist', and 'support' depending on the formality of the situation. You might use 'help' to describe systemic changes, such as 'The new policy helped to reduce poverty in the region.' Your use of the word is no longer just about personal interaction but about describing complex processes and outcomes. You can also use 'help' in the passive voice effectively ('The victims were helped by local charities') and understand the subtle differences in tone that different structures provide.
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At the C1 level, your use of 'to help' is sophisticated and precise. You use it as a tool for facilitation and mitigation. You might use it in academic or professional writing to describe how one factor 'helps to explain' a phenomenon or how a specific intervention 'helps to alleviate' a problem. You are comfortable with all the idiomatic uses and can use the word to express subtle emotional states (e.g., 'I couldn't help laughing, despite the seriousness of the situation'). You also understand the cultural implications of 'help' in different English-speaking societies—where it is expected, how to offer it without being intrusive, and how to refuse it politely. Your vocabulary is rich enough that you choose 'help' intentionally for its directness and warmth, or choose a synonym for its precision.
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At the C2 mastery level, 'to help' is a word you use with complete stylistic control. you understand its history and its role in the fabric of the English language. You can use it in highly literary contexts or in the most complex technical discussions. You might explore the philosophical implications of 'help' in a C2-level essay, discussing the ethics of altruism or the 'helpfulness' of certain ideologies. You are also aware of very rare or archaic uses of the word and can appreciate puns or wordplay involving 'help'. For a C2 speaker, 'help' is not just a verb but a versatile instrument that can be used to convey anything from the most basic human need to the most complex abstract relationship between cause and effect.
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예시

to help 30초 만에

  • To help is to make it easier for someone to do something by offering assistance, support, or resources.
  • It can be used with a person ('help me'), a task ('help with work'), or an action ('help clean').
  • Grammatically, it is unique because it can be followed by a verb with or without 'to' ('help me go' or 'help me to go').
  • It is a fundamental social verb used in contexts ranging from casual favors to professional collaboration and emergency situations.

The verb to help is one of the most fundamental and versatile words in the English language, serving as a cornerstone for social interaction, cooperation, and altruism. At its simplest A1 level, it describes the act of providing assistance to someone so that they can achieve a goal or complete a task more easily. However, as one progresses through the CEFR levels, the nuances of 'help' expand to include psychological support, systemic facilitation, and even the prevention of negative outcomes. In daily life, we use this word to navigate everything from asking for directions to collaborating on complex global projects.

Physical Assistance
This is the most common usage where one person uses their physical strength or presence to aid another. For example, helping an elderly person cross the street or helping a friend move heavy furniture into a new apartment. It implies a direct physical contribution to a labor-intensive task.

Could you please help me carry these groceries to the car?

Informational Support
Helping is not always about physical labor; it often involves the transfer of knowledge or guidance. When a teacher explains a difficult mathematical concept, they are helping the student understand. When a GPS provides directions, it is helping the driver reach their destination. This form of help reduces mental effort or confusion.

The new software will help us manage our time much more efficiently.

Emotional and Mental Aid
Beyond tasks, we help others by providing emotional stability. Listening to a friend who is going through a breakup or offering words of encouragement before an exam are vital forms of help. This usage focuses on the well-being of the individual rather than the completion of a specific external task.

Talking to a therapist can really help you process your grief.

I couldn't help but notice that you looked a bit sad today.

Furthermore, 'help' can describe the utility of an object or a situation. A medicine helps to reduce fever; a rainy day helps the crops grow. In these instances, 'help' functions as a causal link between a condition and a positive result. It suggests that the presence of the 'helper' (the medicine or the rain) is a significant factor in the improvement of the situation. Understanding this word requires looking beyond the dictionary definition and seeing it as a bridge between a problem and a solution. Whether you are 'helping out' with a small chore or 'helping to shape the future' of a company, the core essence remains the same: making things easier, better, or more achievable for others or for oneself.

Every little bit of effort helps when we are working toward such a big goal.

Using 'to help' correctly involves understanding several grammatical structures that are unique to this verb. One of the most interesting aspects of 'help' is that it can be followed by an object and then either a 'bare infinitive' (the verb without 'to') or a 'full infinitive' (the verb with 'to'). Both are grammatically correct, though the bare infinitive is more common in modern American English, while the full infinitive is slightly more formal or common in British English.

Structure 1: Help + Someone + Verb
This is the most direct way to express assistance. 'She helped me finish my homework.' In this structure, the person being helped is the object, and the action they are performing is the base form of the verb. This feels immediate and collaborative.

He helped his brother fix the bicycle in the garage.

Structure 2: Help + Someone + To + Verb
'She helped me to finish my homework.' This is equally correct and emphasizes the purpose of the help. It is often used in more formal writing or when the speaker wants to be very clear about the objective of the assistance. There is no significant difference in meaning between this and the bare infinitive.

The volunteers helped to rebuild the community center after the storm.

Structure 3: Help + With + Noun
When the assistance is focused on a thing or a task rather than an action, we use the preposition 'with'. 'Can you help me with the dishes?' or 'I need help with my taxes.' This is the standard way to specify the area of difficulty where support is needed.

The teacher helped the students with their science projects.

Exercise helps with maintaining a healthy heart rate.

Structure 4: Can't Help + Gerund (-ing)
This is an idiomatic use that means 'cannot avoid' or 'cannot stop oneself from doing something.' For example, 'I can't help laughing' means I am unable to stop laughing. It is a very common expression in spoken English to describe involuntary reactions or strong impulses.

I can't help thinking that we made a mistake in our planning.

Finally, 'help' can be used transitively without a following verb or preposition when the context is clear. 'I'm here to help.' This simple sentence conveys a wealth of meaning, indicating readiness, availability, and a supportive attitude. When using 'help' in the passive voice, such as 'He was helped by a stranger,' it shifts the focus to the recipient of the aid. Mastering these structures allows a learner to move from simple requests to complex descriptions of collaboration and human interaction.

If you need anything at all, just let me know; I'm happy to help.

In the real world, 'to help' is ubiquitous. It’s the sound of customer service, the call of a person in distress, and the language of professional development. You will hear it in various registers, from the highly formal to the extremely casual. Its frequency in spoken English is remarkably high because humans are inherently social beings who constantly negotiate assistance.

Customer Service and Retail
The moment you walk into a store, you are likely to hear, 'Can I help you?' or 'May I help you find something?' This is the standard greeting used by staff to offer assistance. It serves as a polite opening to a transaction and signals that the employee is available to address your needs.

'May I help you with those bags, ma'am?' asked the hotel concierge.

Emergency Situations
In moments of crisis, 'Help!' is the universal English cry for immediate assistance. It is short, sharp, and designed to grab attention. In these contexts, the word transcends its grammatical function and becomes a survival signal. Emergency dispatchers will often ask, 'How can I help you?' to quickly assess the nature of the emergency.

The hiker shouted for help when he realized he was lost in the woods.

The Workplace and Collaboration
In modern offices, the word 'help' is central to teamwork. You'll hear phrases like 'Could you help me brainstorm some ideas?' or 'I need someone to help me troubleshoot this code.' It is the language of peer-to-peer support and mentorship. Managers often ask, 'What can I do to help you succeed?' as a way of offering resources or removing obstacles.

Team members are expected to help each other during busy periods.

Does this explanation help clarify the topic for you?

You will also hear 'help' in advertising. Products are sold on the premise that they will 'help you look younger,' 'help you save money,' or 'help you stay organized.' This marketing usage positions the product as an essential tool for self-improvement. Whether in a billboard or a YouTube ad, the promise of 'help' is a powerful psychological trigger that appeals to our desire for ease and efficiency. In summary, whether you are in a boardroom, a hospital, or a supermarket, 'help' is the word that connects our needs with the solutions provided by others.

Our new app is designed to help users track their daily water intake effortlessly.

Despite its apparent simplicity, 'to help' is often misused by English learners, particularly regarding prepositions and verb patterns. Understanding these common pitfalls can significantly improve the naturalness of your English. The most frequent errors involve the unnecessary use of 'to' in certain structures or the incorrect choice of prepositions when describing the task at hand.

Mistake 1: Using 'for' instead of 'with' or a verb
Many learners say 'Can you help me for my homework?' This is incorrect. In English, we help someone 'with' a noun. The correct form is 'Can you help me with my homework?' or 'Can you help me do my homework?' The preposition 'for' implies a different kind of substitution that doesn't fit the meaning of assistance here.

Help me for this task.
Please help me with this task.

Mistake 2: Overusing the '-ing' form after help
Learners often say 'He helped me cleaning the room.' While this might be understood, it is not the standard structure. We use the infinitive (with or without 'to'). The correct sentence is 'He helped me clean the room' or 'He helped me to clean the room.' The only time we use '-ing' with help is in the idiomatic expression 'can't help doing something'.

I helped her fixing her car.
I helped her fix her car.

Mistake 3: Confusing 'help' with 'assist' or 'support'
While they are synonyms, they are not always interchangeable. 'Assist' is much more formal and often used in medical or administrative contexts. 'Support' often refers to emotional or financial backing over a long period. Using 'assist' in a casual conversation like 'Can you assist me with the salt?' sounds unnaturally stiff.

In a casual setting, just say: 'Can you help me for a second?'

The new laws are intended to help prevent further accidents on this road.

Mistake 4: Missing the object in transitive use
In many languages, you can say 'I helped' without saying who you helped. In English, if there is a specific person being helped, they must be mentioned unless the context makes it absolutely clear. 'I helped my mother' is better than just 'I helped' when someone asks what you did today.

By paying attention to these nuances—especially the choice between 'help with' and 'help do'—you can avoid the 'clunky' English that often marks a learner. Practice these structures until they become second nature, and you'll find that your requests for assistance and your offers of aid sound much more like those of a native speaker. Remember: 'help' is about making things easier, so keep your grammar simple and direct!

It helps to practice these sentences out loud every morning.

While 'to help' is the most versatile word for assistance, the English language offers a rich palette of alternatives that can provide more precision depending on the context, formality, and nature of the aid being given. Choosing the right synonym can elevate your speaking and writing from basic to sophisticated.

Assist
'Assist' is the more formal cousin of 'help'. It is frequently used in professional, technical, or official contexts. A nurse assists a surgeon; a clerk assists a customer. It implies a secondary role where you are supporting a primary actor who is leading the task.

The administrative assistant will assist you with the registration process.

Aid
'Aid' is often used in the context of large-scale assistance, such as humanitarian relief or financial support. We speak of 'foreign aid' or 'first aid'. As a verb, it sounds somewhat literary or formal. 'The charity aims to aid those affected by the flood.'

New technologies can aid in the early detection of various diseases.

Support
'Support' suggests a more long-term or foundational kind of help. You support a family, a cause, or a friend's decision. It often involves emotional or financial backing rather than just helping with a single task. It implies being the 'pillar' that holds something up.

My parents always supported my dream of becoming a professional musician.

Could you lend a hand with these heavy boxes for a minute?

Facilitate
In business and academic settings, 'facilitate' means to make a process easier or to help it happen. A moderator facilitates a discussion; a new law might facilitate trade between two countries. It focuses on the 'process' rather than the 'person'.

Other words like 'succor' (very formal/literary aid in distress), 'collaborate' (working together as equals), and 'abet' (usually used for helping in something wrong) provide even more specific shades of meaning. By comparing these words, we see that 'help' is the general term, while its alternatives allow us to specify the formality, the duration, and the nature of the assistance. Whether you are providing 'succor' to the weary or 'facilitating' a meeting, you are essentially 'helping', but with a more precise intent.

The goal of the workshop is to facilitate better communication within the department.

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수준별 예문

1

Can you help me, please?

Pouvez-vous m'aider, s'il vous plaît ?

Direct question with 'can' for a request.

2

I help my mother in the kitchen.

J'aide ma mère dans la cuisine.

Present simple for a regular habit.

3

She helps her brother with his homework.

Elle aide son frère pour ses devoirs.

Third person singular 's' and use of 'with' for a task.

4

Please help me carry this bag.

S'il vous plaît, aidez-moi à porter ce sac.

Imperative form used politely with 'please'.

5

They help the teacher every day.

Ils aident le professeur tous les jours.

Subject-verb agreement for 'they'.

6

Do you need help?

Avez-vous besoin d'aide ?

Using 'help' as a noun in a common question.

7

He helps his friends.

Il aide ses amis.

Simple transitive use of the verb.

8

The map helps us find the way.

La carte nous aide à trouver le chemin.

Help + object + verb (bare infinitive).

1

I helped my neighbor move her furniture yesterday.

J'ai aidé ma voisine à déménager ses meubles hier.

Past simple tense of 'help'.

2

Will you help me cook dinner tonight?

M'aideras-tu à préparer le dîner ce soir ?

Future tense with 'will' for a request.

3

She is helping the children learn to swim.

Elle aide les enfants à apprendre à nager.

Present continuous for an ongoing action.

4

This book helped me learn Spanish.

Ce livre m'a aidé à apprendre l'espagnol.

Help + object + verb.

5

Can I help you find a seat?

Puis-je vous aider à trouver une place ?

Polite offer of help using 'can'.

6

They helped us clean the park.

Ils nous ont aidés à nettoyer le parc.

Past simple with plural subject and object.

7

He helps out at the local library on Saturdays.

Il donne un coup de main à la bibliothèque locale le samedi.

Use of the phrasal verb 'help out'.

8

Does this medicine help with your headache?

Ce médicament aide-t-il pour votre mal de tête ?

Help + 'with' for a condition.

1

I was wondering if you could help me solve this problem.

Je me demandais si vous pourriez m'aider à résoudre ce problème.

Polite indirect request using 'was wondering' and 'could'.

2

The internet helps us stay connected with friends abroad.

Internet nous aide à rester connectés avec des amis à l'étranger.

Help + object + verb (bare infinitive) for a general truth.

3

She helped to organize the charity event last month.

Elle a aidé à organiser l'événement caritatif le mois dernier.

Help + 'to' + infinitive.

4

Learning grammar helps you to write better essays.

Apprendre la grammaire vous aide à écrire de meilleures dissertations.

Gerund as subject + help + object + full infinitive.

5

I'll help you out as soon as I finish this report.

Je t'aiderai dès que j'aurai fini ce rapport.

Phrasal verb 'help out' in the future tense.

6

The new software will help us manage our time effectively.

Le nouveau logiciel nous aidera à gérer notre temps efficacement.

Future tense with an adverb 'effectively'.

7

Can you help me decide which car to buy?

Peux-tu m'aider à décider quelle voiture acheter ?

Help + object + verb + question word clause.

8

He helped his team win the championship.

Il a aidé son équipe à gagner le championnat.

Help + object + verb (bare infinitive).

1

I couldn't help laughing when he told that joke.

Je n'ai pas pu m'empêcher de rire quand il a raconté cette blague.

Idiomatic 'can't help' + gerund (-ing).

2

The government is trying to help those affected by the recession.

Le gouvernement essaie d'aider les personnes touchées par la récession.

Help + past participle phrase as object.

3

This discovery helps explain why the dinosaurs went extinct.

Cette découverte aide à expliquer pourquoi les dinosaures ont disparu.

Help + bare infinitive (no object).

4

It helps to have a clear plan before you start a business.

Cela aide d'avoir un plan clair avant de lancer une entreprise.

Introductory 'it' + help + to-infinitive.

5

She has helped many young artists find their voice.

Elle a aidé de nombreux jeunes artistes à trouver leur voie.

Present perfect tense for life experience.

6

The medication helped alleviate his chronic back pain.

Le médicament a aidé à soulager sa douleur dorsale chronique.

Use of advanced vocabulary 'alleviate'.

7

I'm sure your advice will help him make the right decision.

Je suis sûr que tes conseils l'aideront à prendre la bonne décision.

Future tense with 'will' for a prediction.

8

They helped us through a very difficult period in our lives.

Ils nous ont aidés à traverser une période très difficile de notre vie.

Help + object + 'through' + noun phrase.

1

I couldn't help but notice the tension in the room.

Je n'ai pas pu m'empêcher de remarquer la tension dans la pièce.

Advanced idiom 'can't help but' + bare infinitive.

2

The study helps to shed light on the complexities of human behavior.

L'étude aide à éclairer les complexités du comportement humain.

Metaphorical use of 'shed light on' with help.

3

His experience helped facilitate a smooth transition for the company.

Son expérience a aidé à faciliter une transition en douceur pour l'entreprise.

Help + advanced verb 'facilitate'.

4

It can't be helped; we'll just have to start over from scratch.

On n'y peut rien ; nous allons devoir tout recommencer de zéro.

Passive idiom 'it can't be helped'.

5

These measures will help mitigate the impact of climate change.

Ces mesures aideront à atténuer l'impact du changement climatique.

Help + formal verb 'mitigate'.

6

She helped herself to another slice of cake without asking.

Elle s'est servie une autre part de gâteau sans demander.

Reflexive idiom 'help oneself to'.

7

The mentor's guidance helped the intern navigate the corporate culture.

Les conseils du mentor ont aidé le stagiaire à s'orienter dans la culture d'entreprise.

Metaphorical use of 'navigate'.

8

Knowing the local customs will help you avoid social blunders.

Connaître les coutumes locales vous aidera à éviter les impairs sociaux.

Gerund phrase as subject + help + object + verb.

1

The philosopher argued that helping others is the ultimate form of self-actualization.

Le philosophe a soutenu que l'aide aux autres est la forme ultime de réalisation de soi.

Gerund 'helping' as the subject of a subordinate clause.

2

Her intervention helped avert what could have been a diplomatic catastrophe.

Son intervention a permis d'éviter ce qui aurait pu être une catastrophe diplomatique.

Help + formal verb 'avert' + complex noun clause.

3

The intricate plot structure helps to reinforce the novel's central themes.

La structure complexe de l'intrigue aide à renforcer les thèmes centraux du roman.

Help + full infinitive in literary analysis.

4

One cannot help but admire the sheer tenacity of the early pioneers.

On ne peut s'empêcher d'admirer la ténacité pure des premiers pionniers.

Formal 'one' + 'cannot help but' + verb.

5

The data helps corroborate the hypothesis proposed by the research team.

Les données aident à corroborer l'hypothèse proposée par l'équipe de recherche.

Help + highly academic verb 'corroborate'.

6

He helped himself to the company's funds, leading to his eventual arrest.

Il s'est servi dans les fonds de l'entreprise, ce qui a conduit à son arrestation finale.

Euphemistic use of 'help oneself to' meaning stealing.

7

These ancient ruins help us piece together the history of a lost civilization.

Ces ruines antiques nous aident à reconstituer l'histoire d'une civilisation perdue.

Help + phrasal verb 'piece together'.

8

The subtle use of lighting helps create a sense of impending doom in the film.

L'utilisation subtile de l'éclairage aide à créer un sentiment de catastrophe imminente dans le film.

Help + bare infinitive in artistic criticism.

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