Help in doing

[englishhobby]

Which of the two is correct (or both? or both wrong?)

1) ...the students who help in carrying out seasonal work in the garden

2) ...the students who help to carry out seasonal work in the garden

My questions are
1) Is it possible to use "help" without an object in these (and similar) structures? (if it's difficult to define the object, in this situation it's the Botanical garden, or people who keep it).
2) Is it possible to say "they help in doing something"?

[englishhobby]

Any ideas

[emsr2d2]

Which of the two is correct (or both? or both wrong?)

1) ...the students who help in carrying out seasonal work in the garden

2) ...the students who help to carry out seasonal work in the garden

My questions are
1) Is it possible to use "help" without an object in these (and similar) structures? (if it's difficult to define the object, in this situation it's the Botanical garden, or people who keep it).
2) Is it possible to say "they help in doing something"?

Firstly, please try to be more patient. Bumping the thread up and nudging for an answer after only 2 hours is a little impatient. Here in the UK it's Sunday morning, and we like to have a nice lazy morning and a lie-in. For our colleagues in America it's the middle of the night!

"...the students who help by carrying out..."
and
"...the students who help to carry out..."
both work depending on context.

It is possible to use "help" without stating an object.
I would not use "...help in carrying out..." though. It is more natural to follow "help in" with a noun.

He helps in the kitchen.
They help in the garden.
She helps in the office.

He helps with the cooking.
They help by carrying the heavy branches.
She helps with the typing.
She helps by typing the extra lists that are needed.

[englishhobby]

Thank you very much! Your answer is so comprehensive, just what I need!

As to

Firstly, please try to be more patient. Bumping the thread up and nudging for an answer ...

I am awfully sorry. Usually I AM very patient and sometimes wait for the answers till the next day or even for 2 days, but I am going to be an interpreter at a conference tomorrow (which is not my typical job), so I lost control this time ))))

Thank you again!