“can't help to do”是一个容易与“can't help doing”混淆的英语短语,核心区别在于“help”的语义和功能。以下是具体解析:
“can't help to do”中的help是实义动词,意为“帮助”;整个短语表示“无法帮忙做某事”(没有能力或条件提供帮助完成某个动作)。
结构:主语 + can't help to do + 具体动作
(注:“help to do”中的“to”可省略,即“can't help do”与“can't help to do”含义完全一致,均表示“不能帮忙做”。)
通过对比“can't help to do”和“can't help doing”,更易理解:
短语 | 含义 | 例句 |
---|---|---|
can't help to do | 不能帮忙做某事 | 1. I can't help to clean the room—I have a meeting in 10 minutes. (我不能帮忙打扫房间——我10分钟后有会。) 2、 She can't help (to) finish the report tonight—she's sick. (她今晚不能帮忙完成报告——她生病了。) |
can't help doing | 忍不住/情不自禁做某事 | 1. I can't help laughing at his silly joke. (他的冷笑话让我忍不住笑。) 2、 She can't help crying when watching sad movies. (看悲剧电影时她忍不住哭。) |
“can't help to do”:聚焦“帮助”,强调“没有能力/条件协助他人完成动作”;
“can't help doing”:聚焦“控制”,强调“情绪或本能驱使,无法克制自己做某事”。
简单来说:
当别人请求你帮忙时,如果你说“I can't help to do it”,意思是“我没法帮忙做这件事”;
当你看到有趣的事笑了,说“I can't help laughing”,意思是“我忍不住笑了”。
希望这个解析能帮你分清两个短语的差异!