Putting

[haseli22]

Dear Teachers,
In the following sentence why "putting" is in –ing form?
Everyone, from crazy inventors to people needing help putting their kids through college, wanted help from them.
Thanks.

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER

Hazeli,


(1) There may be more than one explanation.

(2) I believe that I may know one explanation: in speech and in informal writing, native speakers often delete (drop) prepositions.

(3) I believe, therefore, that your full sentence is:

Everyone, from crazy inventors to people seeking help in putting their kids through college, wanted to help them.

(4) I found some similar sentences in the "books" section of Google:

(a) These researchers therefore seek help in recruiting participants for their studies.
-- Research Methods (2010) by Allen Rubin and Earl R. Babbio.

(b) The target firm may seek help in "proving" that the price being offered is too low.
-- Financial Management (2008) by Eugene F. Brigham and Michael C. Ehrhardt.

(c) Patients and families affected by cancer come to professionals to seek help in protecting and enhancing the quality of their lives.
-- The Application of Problem-Solving Therapy (1999) by Julia A. Bucher.

(5) As you know, after a preposition you need a (pro)noun. "Putting" in your sentence probably is

described as a gerund. Gerunds, as you will remember from your studies, are used like nouns. In other

words, you cannot say "in put." It must be "in putting." For example: One way to save your money is

by putting your money in a bank.

[Tdol]

I think there are three possible verb forms you could use here:

• people needing help putting
• people needing help in putting
• people needing help to put