help somebody (to) do — bare infinitive (GiU Unit 57)
The frame
Section titled “The frame”I’ve lost my phone. Can you help me look for it? ✓
help + object + bare infinitive — to optional:
- help me look for it ✓
- help me (to) look for it ✓ (BrE slightly prefers to)
- ✗ help me looking
Why bare infinitive
Section titled “Why bare infinitive”help = assist someone do something — the helper joins the action, so the second verb is a plain infinitive (same family as perception verbs: see/hear someone do). It’s the one common verb where to is genuinely optional.
The trap: can’t help + -ing (different idiom)
Section titled “The trap: can’t help + -ing (different idiom)”- can’t help doing = can’t avoid/stop: I can’t help laughing / Can’t help wondering
- This is NOT the assist-verb pattern — same word, unrelated meaning. -ing there is correct.
| form | meaning | example |
|---|---|---|
| help sb (to) do | assist | help me look for it |
| can’t help doing | can’t avoid | I can’t help laughing |
Source
Section titled “Source”Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use, Unit 57 — Verb + -ing or to… 2. Ebot lesson 2026-09-05.