Take the 2-minute tour ×  Possible Duplicate: “Help rule out”
vs. “help to rule out”  I've seen the verb "help" be used
transitively and intransitively - in the latter case, followed
by the preposition "to" - in various sentences. For example,
these should have identical meaning:  I'll help you do it. /
I'll help you to do it. Jim helps run the shop. / Jim helps to
run the shop.  Should it be used intransitively in this way,
though? If we have a transitive version, doesn't it make sense
to use that instead if we're using this verb with an infinitive?
It also seems to me that using "help" intransitively in this way
can lead to ambiguity; for example:  It helps to buy holidays.
... could mean that some previously stated thing helps with the
process of buying holidays, or that buying holidays - in general
- helps something. What would be the more likely meaning of the
above sentence?  share|improve this question  marked as
duplicate by FumbleFingers, kiamlaluno, jwpat7, tchrist, Mitch
Aug 9 '12 at 16:32   This