The eternal debate among grammar enthusiasts, "helps vs. help," has baffled many writers and speakers alike. Despite its seemingly simple nature, this dueling duo of verbs can trip up the best of us. Let's dive into this linguistic conundrum and unravel the mystery once and for all.
Before we delve into the technicalities, let's address the elephant in the room: both "helps" and "help" are widely used, and it might seem like splitting hairs to differentiate between them. However, knowing when to use each can greatly enhance your writing and speaking, making your expressions clearer and more precise.
"Are" vs. "Is": The Underlying Puzzle
"Helps vs. help" is an offshoot of the broader "are" vs. "is" conundrum. Both "to help" and "to helps" are gerunds, verbs ending in -ing and functioning as nouns. The key lies in understanding that gerunds can require a helping verb before them, and that's where "are" and "is" come into play.
In short, we use "is" with singular subjects and "are" with plural subjects and the pronoun "you". So, the first step in solving the "helps vs. help" riddle is to determine the subject preceding the gerund.
Using "Is" with Singular Subjects
When the subject is singular, we use "is" before the gerund. For instance, "It is helpful to learn a foreign language" or "He is loving the new book he's reading". Here, "it" and "he" are singular subjects, thus requiring "is".
This rule also applies to uncountable nouns used as singular subjects: "Its engine is powerful," "Her contribution is essential," and "Gold's price is soaring" all follow this pattern.
Using "Are" with Plural Subjects and "You"
When the subject is plural or the pronoun "you," we use "are" before the gerund. Examples include "They are looking forward to the movie" and "We are enjoying the party". Even when the subject is a singular noun but preceded by "you," the rule holds: "You are dulling your knives by washing them incorrectly".
Additionally, "is" can be replaced with "be" as an auxiliary verb, which also takes "are" with plural subjects and "you": "We are being careful not to disturb them" vs. "He is being careful not to disturb them".
Contracting "helps": An Aside
You might encounter "helps" as a contraction of "help + s," as in "It helps to study." However, this use of "helps" is actually a misconception rooted in early 20th-century English, where "help" could function as both a verb and a noun. This usage has largely been phased out, and the current accepted form is "helping".
So, while "helps" as a contraction can be understood in certain historical or regional contexts, it's generally best to stick with the more modern and standard "Helping" in contemporary English.
"Help" as a Noun: No Helper Needed
Unlike its gerund cousin, "help" as a noun doesn't need a helping verb. For example, "The amount of help needed was overwhelming." Here, "help" is a noun, not a gerund, and thus doesn't require "is" or "are".
Other examples include "He was grateful for the help" and "Our goal is to provide help to those in need." In both cases, "help" is acting as a noun, its true grammatical identity lying in its ability to exist without a helping hand.
Understanding the intricacies of "helps" vs. "help" may seem daunting at first, but like any language rule, practice makes perfect. By paying close attention to your subject and ensuring you're using the correct helping verb, you'll be well on your way to communicating with greater clarity and precision. So, go forth and help, help to the best of your abilities – or better yet, "go forth and Helping"!