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to help someone with

to help someone with

499 1.0
To do part of a task for someone who has trouble doing it
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : ayudar a alguien con
  • Is there anything else I can help you guys with?
  • help someone cope with
  • help someone deal with
  • help students with

And it's as though someone was able to successfully help someone with their homework but not be able to pass the test with themselves.

Examples

  • After we finish here, I will visit him and help him with his walking.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • I was getting used to having someone to help me with all this.

  • You are gonna help me with this mess.

  • 'Cause I can help you with that!

  • - Let me help you with those things.

  • Mary, can I help you with your bags?

  • Maybe, um, Charlie could help us with the garage, David.

  • So, are you going to help me out with this assignment or what?

  • Yes, she remembered that she was supposed to help me with the football party.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Can I help you with your homework later?

Synonyms

to give a hand
vsto help someone with
707 1.8

To help someone with something or to clap to show appreciation

is used only for practical action, not for applause
to assist
vsto help someone with
605 1.0

To help someone by making a task easier

is more neutral and everyday for doing specific activities
to help out
vsto help someone with
  • Informal
486 1.0

To do something for someone who cannot do it alone

is about working on a specific task even when not urgent
to help with
vsto help someone with
438 1.0

To give someone support to do a task

is the longer phrasing but means the same in this context
to help someone out
vsto help someone with
  • Informal
182 1.3

Give someone support with a task or problem when they need it

is used for general task completion rather than only urgent problems
to lend a hand
vsto help someone with
  • Informal
28 1.3

To help someone with a task

is more neutral and fits formal or informal tasks
to offer support
vsto help someone with
28 2.7

To give help to someone during a difficult time

is focused on active task work rather than long-term emotional backing
to lend a helping hand
vsto help someone with
  • Informal
6 2.7

To give someone support with a task or problem

is focused on task completion without extra kindness emphasis
to provide aid
vsto help someone with
5 2.9

To give help to people and countries in need

is about working alongside one person on a particular task, not large relief efforts
to come to (someone's) aid
vsto help someone with
3 3.1

To help someone when they are in trouble

is broader, also applying to planned, non-emergency task work

Antonyms

256 3.8

Fail to care for someone or something you should look after

75 3.6

To make it difficult for people or things to do something

How Helpful

to help someone with
499 1.0
to demonstrate
211 3.1

Surface Forms

help someone with infinitive
helped someone with past participle
helping someone with present participle
helps someone with third person singular

Morphology

help + someone + with

The meaning 'to assist someone in doing a particular task' is directly and compositionally derived from 'help' (to assist) combined with the beneficiary 'someone' and the preposition 'with' that signals the task or instrument. This verb + beneficiary + with-pattern is a common, cross-linguistic construction and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Help someone with shows a simple picture: one person is doing a job and another stands with them to hold, carry, or do part of the work. So, help plus 'with' means 'to assist someone in doing a particular task'.