Nov 25, 2010 15:18
13 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
help someone not to do something
English
Other
Other
Lexicology
Can I use such a pattern?
For instance,
He helped her not to fall out of the carriage.
He helped his friend not to lag behind.
Or some other pattern is used, e.g.
He helped her so that she didn't fall out of the carriage, etc.
For instance,
He helped her not to fall out of the carriage.
He helped his friend not to lag behind.
Or some other pattern is used, e.g.
He helped her so that she didn't fall out of the carriage, etc.
Change log
Nov 25, 2010 16:02: Travelin Ann changed "Term asked" from "help smn not to do smth" to "help someone not to do something"
Responses
+3
4 hrs
Selected
not to do
You can prevent someone from doing something, usually with forceful action:
"He prevented her from falling by holding her arm."
You can keep someone from doing something by various means:
"He kept his friend from falling behind by taking his arm and pulling."
"He kept his friend from drinking too much by suggesting that they go get something to eat."
You can stop someone from doing something dangerous:
"His friend was going to walk into traffic, but he stopped him in time."
You can also make someone do something else instead:
"He made his friend quit fighting before someone got hurt."
"He prevented her from falling by holding her arm."
You can keep someone from doing something by various means:
"He kept his friend from falling behind by taking his arm and pulling."
"He kept his friend from drinking too much by suggesting that they go get something to eat."
You can stop someone from doing something dangerous:
"His friend was going to walk into traffic, but he stopped him in time."
You can also make someone do something else instead:
"He made his friend quit fighting before someone got hurt."
Example sentence:
He prevented her from falling by holding her arm.
He kept his friend from drinking too much by suggesting that they go get something to eat.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you. Good examples indeed."
+1
11 mins
Robert Forstag
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Translating words, preserving meaning
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
English term (edited):
help smn not to do smth
[see below]
He helped her not to fall out of the carriage.
=
He helped keep her from falling out of the carriage.
He helped make sure that she didn't fall of the carriage.
He helped his friend not to lag behind.
=
He prompted his friend to keep up with him [or, "with everyone else"]
These are a few of the ways this kind of thought would naturally be expressed in English.
Suerte.
=
He helped keep her from falling out of the carriage.
He helped make sure that she didn't fall of the carriage.
He helped his friend not to lag behind.
=
He prompted his friend to keep up with him [or, "with everyone else"]
These are a few of the ways this kind of thought would naturally be expressed in English.
Suerte.
2 hrs
help stop someone doing
The structure you suggest is awkward.
He helped stop her falling from the carriage. However, note that falling is passive, so a more active alternative might be better. He helped stop her throwing herself from the carriage. However, who was he helping, the implication is that he was one of a number of people who helped stop the falling or throwing. The person intent upon throwing herself from the carriage might have considered that being stopped was not at all helpful.
He helped his friend keep up. (Better turned into a positive statement.)
He helped stop her falling from the carriage. However, note that falling is passive, so a more active alternative might be better. He helped stop her throwing herself from the carriage. However, who was he helping, the implication is that he was one of a number of people who helped stop the falling or throwing. The person intent upon throwing herself from the carriage might have considered that being stopped was not at all helpful.
He helped his friend keep up. (Better turned into a positive statement.)
3 hrs
British Diana
Germany
Germany
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
Germany
enthusiast
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: German to English, English to German, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
make it easier for someone not to do something
Some of the expressions suggested including "help" sound a bit unnatural. However, turning it round (e.g. "He prevented her from falling out of the carriage") is not right, either, because he only helped her not to fall she was instrumental in not falling, too.
My solution would be to say "He made it easier for her not to fall out of the carriage."
My solution would be to say "He made it easier for her not to fall out of the carriage."
-1
4 hrs
Lisa Miles
Canada
Canada
Native in English
&
English
Canada
Word Peace
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English, French to English, and 1 more.
help someone to not do something
Change the word order to make it flow better.
He helped her to not fall out of the carriage.
He helped his friend to not lag behind.
He helped her to not fall out of the carriage.
He helped his friend to not lag behind.
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
: I.m.o. that sounds even more awkward.
1 hr
|
4 days
Alexandra Taggart
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Native in English
&
English
Russian Federation
proficient translation
Native in: English , Russian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English
help someone to avoid doing something
No, you can not, it would be illogical and will contradict the very meaning of "help". "To help" is a verb, which stimulates, aids, assists, improves, relieves, or pushes towards progress in the following action.
If "not" ( as a negation ) was put in front of " help", only then it will sound:
He could NOT help her to avoid falling out of the carriage.(He coldn't help accident)
He could NOT help his friend to avoid lagging behind. ( He couldn't help his fat friend)
If "not" ( as a negation ) was put in front of " help", only then it will sound:
He could NOT help her to avoid falling out of the carriage.(He coldn't help accident)
He could NOT help his friend to avoid lagging behind. ( He couldn't help his fat friend)
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