after "help"

[ivygreen]

Could you tell me if this sentence below is grammatically correct?

"The Canadian police officers are sent there to help police the American football maches."

For me, after "help..." sounds a bit unnatural.
I think "help + object (people) + preposition ..." or
"help + verb..." sounds natural.

And why "the" isn't put in front of "police"?

[Teia]

Could you tell me if this sentence below is grammatically correct?

"The Canadian police officers are sent there to help police the American football maches."

For me, after "help..." sounds a bit unnatural.
I think "help + object (people) + preposition ..." or
"help + verb..." sounds natural.

And why "the" isn't put in front of "police"?

The sentence is correct. Police is used here not as a noun but as a verb.

The Canadian police officers are sent there to help maintain the security of the American football maches by carrying out a patrol.

police - vb. = 1.maintain the security of by carrying out a patrol

police - Definitions from Dictionary.com

Help can be followed by a verb too:

Vitamin E may help protect you.

help + verb + noun vs help + noun + verb

[ivygreen]

Dear Teia,


Thank you very much for your detail and kind explanation.

I can understand totally. Thank you so much.

[Barb_D]

However, using "police" as a noun in the beginning of the sentence and "police" as a verb later in the sentence strikes me as not very good style. I would have chosen a different verb.

[not a teacher]

[Teia]

However, using "police" as a noun in the beginning of the sentence and "police" as a verb later in the sentence strikes me as not very good style. I would have chosen a different verb.

[not a teacher]

I agree with you Barb. I would have chosen a different verb too.

[Teia]

Dear Teia,


Thank you very much for your detail and kind explanation.

I can understand totally. Thank you so much.

You are most welcome! If I were to choose, I would use a different verb instead of police, as Barb has already said.

[ivygreen]

Thank you very much, again. I see. I understand it.