Help + Gerund ?

AnonymousHi,

I know that the verb "to help" can be either followed by a bare infinitive or "to" (eg: "help me (to) move this chair") but can a gerund be used ? eg: she helped me doing my homework

thx

No. You have to say "She helped me do my homework."

No, it would be grammatically incorrect to say "she helped me doing my homework." Instead, you could say "she helped me to complete my homework."
Hope this helps!
Jeremy

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how about " She couldn't help laughing when she read the story"
I don't really understand the meaning!

AnonymousShe couldn't help laughing when she read the story

She was not able to stop herself from laughing when she read the story.

This is a different idiom. You have three structures to think about.

1. to help (to) do something.

I helped put the dishes back on the shelf.
I helped to put the dishes back on the shelf.

2. to help someone (to) do something.

Susan helped her mother find the lost money.
Susan helped her mother to find the lost money.

3. can't/couldn't help doing something.

Edward can't help listening at the door when the boss is talking on the phone.
_______________

The meaning of the third one is that Edward is not able to prevent himself from listening at the door.
_______________

The third structure has a few variants.

Edward can't help but listen at the door when the boss is talking on the phone.
Edward can't help himself from listening at the door when the boss is talking on the phone.

CJ

Also, laughing is a Noun in this sentence.

Thank you.

She couldn't help Laughing means she couldn't stop Laughing

CalifJim3. can't/couldn't help doing something.

so we can't use help with gerund except this structure i guess?