Down helps to give vs. Down helps give

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Stenka25

#363902 Sat, 12 May 07 03:43 PM

I want to ask you natives the difference between the following two sentences.

Can you tell me?

Down helps to give the idea that something falls to the ground or is forced to the ground during the process.

Down helps give the idea that something falls to the ground or is forced to the ground during the process.

Stenka25

Joined on Thu, Jul 13 2006

Seoul, South Korea

Full Member (206)

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Mister Micawber

#363939 Sat, 12 May 07 04:47 PM

The to is optional, that is all.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (23,484)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Marius Hancu

#363952 Sat, 12 May 07 05:12 PM

Yes, optional, but it seems that to is preferred by a large margin:

Google hits:
4,880 for "helps give the idea"
110,000 for "helps to give the idea"

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Mister Micawber

#363963 Sat, 12 May 07 05:46 PM

Interesting and a little surprising, Marius. I suppose the 'to' is becoming old-fashioned. But I still don't understand Ms Google. I get:

5,620 English pages for "helps to give the idea"
10 English pages for "helps give the idea"

And

235,000 English pages for "helps to give"
467,000 English pages for "helps give"

Mister Micawber

Stenka25

#364043 Sun, 13 May 07 12:24 AM

Thanks.

Stenka25