Helps vs. Help — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 14, 2024
"Helps" implies assistance from multiple sources, whereas "help" denotes general support.
Difference Between Helps and Help
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
"Helps" is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb "help," indicating that someone or something provides assistance, support, or makes something easier for another entity. It is specifically used when referring to a single subject (he, she, it) in the present tense. Whereas "help" can be used as a base form of the verb to denote the act of providing assistance or as a noun to refer to the assistance provided. "Help" is more versatile and can be used in various grammatical constructions, including imperatives, infinitives, and subjunctives.
When "helps" is used, it points to a specific subject (like a person, a tool, or a resource) that is actively providing assistance at the moment. On the other hand, "help" as a verb is broader and can refer to potential, hypothetical, or general assistance, and as a noun, it refers to the concept or act of providing assistance without specifying the tense or subject.
The use of "helps" often implies a more immediate and active form of assistance, focusing on the current action of a specific subject. "Help," however, encompasses a broader range of support, including the idea of help as a general concept, an offer, a request, or a need for assistance.
In contexts where specific, ongoing support from a defined source is being described, "helps" is appropriate. For more general discussions about assistance or when making requests, offering support, or discussing the concept of help in general, "help" is used.
While "helps" is more precise in pointing out who or what is providing assistance, "help" offers a wider range of application, from discussing the idea of support to making requests for assistance or offering it.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Form
Third-person singular present tense of "help"
Base form of the verb; also used as a noun
Usage
Refers to a specific subject providing assistance
Refers to the act of assistance in general or the assistance provided
Specificity
Indicates active and specific assistance by a subject
Broad, can refer to potential, general, or immediate assistance
Context
Used when specifying who or what is providing assistance
Used in a variety of contexts, including requests, offers, and discussions about assistance
Application
More immediate and active assistance
Broader application, encompassing both the concept and the act of providing assistance
Compare with Definitions
Helps
Third-person singular present tense, indicating assistance by a specific subject.
The tutorial helps her understand the concept better.
Help
Base form of the verb, used to offer, request, or discuss assistance.
Can you help me with this project?
Helps
Used when a single entity is assisting.
The map helps him navigate through the city.
Help
As a noun, refers to assistance provided.
She offered her help to the team.
Helps
Refers to active support from a defined source.
The medicine helps alleviate the symptoms.
Help
Used in various grammatical constructions.
To help others is a rewarding experience.
Helps
Implies ongoing or current assistance.
This tool helps in fixing the issue more efficiently.
Help
Broad application in discussing support.
This guide will be a great help in your studies.
Helps
Focuses on the subject's action of providing help.
She helps out at the shelter every weekend.
Help
Indicates the concept or act of providing support.
They are in need of help.
Helps
To give assistance to (someone); make it easier for (someone) to do something; aid
She helped me with my project. I helped her find her book.
Help
Make it easier or possible for (someone) to do something by offering them one's services or resources
The teenager helped out in the corner shop
She helped him find a buyer
They helped her with domestic chores
Helps
To give material or financial aid to
Help the homeless.
Help
Serve someone with (food or drink)
May I help you to some more meat?
She helped herself to a biscuit
Helps
To wait on, as in a store or restaurant
Please help the customer in aisle 20.
Help
Cannot or could not avoid
He couldn't help laughing
I'm sorry to put you to any inconvenience, but it can't be helped
Helps
To contribute to the effectiveness or improvement of (something); improve or advance
Tax breaks to help create jobs.
New ways to help the environment.
A remark that didn't help the situation.
Help
The action of helping someone to do something
I asked for help from my neighbours
Helps
To ease the pain or discomfort of; relieve
Medication to help your cold.
Help
Used as an appeal for urgent assistance
Help! I'm drowning!
Helps
To refrain from; avoid or resist. Used with can or cannot
Couldn't help laughing.
Help
To give assistance to (someone); make it easier for (someone) to do something; aid
She helped me with my project. I helped her find her book.
Helps
To be of service; give assistance
I made a cake, and my friend helped.
Help
To give material or financial aid to
Help the homeless.
Helps
To be of use or provide relief
He has a bad back, and physical therapy hasn't helped.
Help
To wait on, as in a store or restaurant
Please help the customer in aisle 20.
Helps
The action of helping; assistance
Do you need help with that package?.
Help
To contribute to the effectiveness or improvement of (something); improve or advance
Tax breaks to help create jobs.
New ways to help the environment.
A remark that didn't help the situation.
Helps
One that helps
You've been a great help. A food processor is a help to the serious cook.
Help
To ease the pain or discomfort of; relieve
Medication to help your cold.
Helps
(Archaic) A person employed to help, especially a farm worker or domestic servant.
Help
To refrain from; avoid or resist. Used with can or cannot
Couldn't help laughing.
Helps
Such employees considered as a group. Often used with the.
Help
To be of service; give assistance
I made a cake, and my friend helped.
Helps
Plural of help
Help
To be of use or provide relief
He has a bad back, and physical therapy hasn't helped.
Help
The action of helping; assistance
Do you need help with that package?.
Help
One that helps
You've been a great help. A food processor is a help to the serious cook.
Help
(Archaic) A person employed to help, especially a farm worker or domestic servant.
Help
Such employees considered as a group. Often used with the.
Help
(uncountable) Action given to provide assistance; aid.
I need some help with my homework.
Help
Something or someone which provides assistance with a task.
He was a great help to me when I was moving house.
I've printed out a list of math helps.
Help
Documentation provided with computer software, etc. and accessed using the computer.
I can't find anything in the help about rotating an image.
Help
One or more people employed to help in the maintenance of a house or the operation of a farm or enterprise.
The help is coming round this morning to clean.
Most of the hired help is seasonal, for the harvest.
Help
(uncountable) Correction of deficits, as by psychological counseling or medication or social support or remedial training.
His suicide attempts were a cry for help.
He really needs help in handling customer complaints.
“He’s a real road-rager.” / “Yup, he really needs help, maybe anger management.”
Help
(transitive) To provide assistance to (someone or something).
He helped his grandfather cook breakfast.
Help
(transitive) To assist (a person) in getting something, especially food or drink at table; used with to.
It is polite to help your guests to food before serving yourself.
Help yourself to whatever's in the fridge.
Help
(transitive) To contribute in some way to.
The white paint on the walls helps make the room look brighter.
If you want to get a job, it helps to have some prior experience.
Help
(intransitive) To provide assistance.
She was struggling with the groceries, so I offered to help.
Please, help!
Help
(transitive) To avoid; to prevent; to refrain from; to restrain (oneself). Usually used in nonassertive contexts with can.
We couldn’t help noticing that you were late.
We couldn’t help but notice that you were late.
She’s trying not to smile, but she can’t help herself.
Can I help it if I'm so beautiful?
Can I help it that I fell in love with you?
Are they going to beat us?
Not if I can help it!
She never does more than she can help.
Help
A cry of distress or an urgent request for assistance
Help
To furnish with strength or means for the successful performance of any action or the attainment of any object; to aid; to assist; as, to help a man in his work; to help one to remember; - the following infinitive is commonly used without to; as, "Help me scale yon balcony."
Help
To furnish with the means of deliverance from trouble; as, to help one in distress; to help one out of prison.
Help
To furnish with relief, as in pain or disease; to be of avail against; - sometimes with of before a word designating the pain or disease, and sometimes having such a word for the direct object.
The true calamus helps coughs.
Help
To change for the better; to remedy.
Cease to lament for what thou canst not help.
Help
To prevent; to hinder; as, the evil approaches, and who can help it?
Help
To forbear; to avoid.
I can not help remarking the resemblance betwixt him and our author.
Help
To wait upon, as the guests at table, by carving and passing food.
The god of learning and of lightWould want a god himself to help him out.
Help
To lend aid or assistance; to contribute strength or means; to avail or be of use; to assist.
A generous present helps to persuade, as well as an agreeable person.
Help
Strength or means furnished toward promoting an object, or deliverance from difficulty or distress; aid; ^; also, the person or thing furnishing the aid; as, he gave me a help of fifty dollars.
Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man.
God is . . . a very present help in trouble.
Virtue is a friend and a help to nature.
Help
Remedy; relief; as, there is no help for it.
Help
A helper; one hired to help another; also, thew hole force of hired helpers in any business.
Help
Specifically, a domestic servant, man or woman.
Help
The activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose;
He gave me an assist with the housework
Could not walk without assistance
Rescue party went to their aid
Offered his help in unloading
Help
A resource;
Visual aids in teaching
Economic assistance to depressed areas
Help
A means of serving;
Of no avail
There's no help for it
Help
A person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose;
My invaluable assistant
They hired additional help to finish the work
Help
Give help or assistance; be of service;
Everyone helped out during the earthquake
Can you help me carry this table?
She never helps around the house
Help
Be of use;
This will help to prevent accidents
Help
Improve the condition of;
These pills will help the patient
Help
Abstain from doing; always used with a negative;
I can't help myself--I have to smoke
She could not help watching the sad spectacle
Help
Contribute to the furtherance of;
This money will help the development of literacy in developing countries
Help
Improve; change for the better;
New slipcovers will help the old living room furniture
Help
Help to some food; help with food or drink;
I served him three times, and after that he helped himself
Help
Take or use;
She helped herself to some of the office supplies
Common Curiosities
How do I use "help" in a sentence?
As a verb: "Can you help me?" As a noun: "I offered my help."
When should I use "helps" instead of "help"?
Use "helps" when referring to a specific subject (he, she, it) that is currently providing assistance. Use "help" for more general references to assistance or when making requests.
What is the difference between "helps" and "help"?
"Helps" is the third-person singular present tense form of "help," used for specific subjects providing assistance, while "help" is more versatile, used as a verb and a noun to denote assistance in general.
How is "help" used in imperative sentences?
"Help" is often used in commands or requests for assistance, like "Help me lift this."
Is "helps" only used for people?
No, "helps" can refer to anything that provides assistance, including tools, resources, or actions.
Can "help" be a formal request?
Yes, "help" can be used formally, especially with polite modifiers: "Could you please help?"
Can "help" be used in a passive construction?
Yes, e.g., "He was helped by the community."
Is it correct to say "helps to" or just "helps"?
Both can be correct, depending on the sentence. "Helps to" is used before a verb ("Music helps to relax"), while "helps" can be used directly before a noun or action ("This book helps understanding").
Can "help" and "helps" be used interchangeably?
No, they serve different grammatical functions and contexts. "Helps" is specific to the third-person singular present tense, whereas "help" has broader uses.
What does it mean when someone says, "This helps"?
It means that something is providing assistance or making a situation better or easier in some way.
Can "help" be used without an object?
Yes, "help" can be used without a direct object, especially when the context is clear or when it's used as a command or request: "Please help!"
What is an example of "helps" in a question?
"Does this medication helps relieve pain?" Note: In questions, "does" is used, so "help" should be in the base form: "Does this medication help relieve pain?"
How does the meaning change with "helps" in a sentence?
"Helps" specifies that a particular subject is actively providing assistance at the moment.
How is "help" used in different tenses?
"Help" changes form based on tense: "helped" (past), "helping" (continuous), "will help" (future).
What is the noun form of "help"?
The noun form is "help," referring to the assistance provided: "Your help is greatly appreciated."
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Vertigo vs. Vertiginous
Next Comparison
Decreased vs. ReducedAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
