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  #11  
Old 17-Mar-2004, 10:17
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I'd go for 'useful' rather than helpful- people can be helpful, tools are useful.
  #12  
Old 17-Mar-2004, 16:53
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Re:
  • It is helpful to use more than one example in an explanation.
(It is helpful to whom? It is helpful to the learner.) That is indeed the right way to put it.

:)
  #13  
Old 17-Mar-2004, 20:38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdol
I'd go for 'useful' rather than helpful- people can be helpful, tools are useful.
I would too. :wink:
  #14  
Old 18-Mar-2004, 12:48
sanny
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And how can you explain:
1. A shovel is helpful for digging up treasure.
or this sentence
2. A shovel is helpful to dig up a treasure.
sound both very logical.
  #15  
Old 18-Mar-2004, 13:18
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I would say a shovel is useful for digging up treasure. However, I don't know how to explain why I use for instead of to. :(

(I wouldn't use helpful for an inanimate object, because help implies something more active than use.)

:)
  #16  
Old 18-Mar-2004, 21:11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sanny
And how can you explain:
1. A shovel is helpful for digging up treasure.
or this sentence
2. A shovel is helpful to dig up a treasure.
sound both very logical.
I have thought about this some more. The difference in usage seems to be that "helpful to" is used before a person, people, or other agents, whereas "helpful for" is used before conditions, processes, activities, etc. Check some of the contrasting uses here:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...=Google+Search
  #17  
Old 19-Mar-2004, 03:24
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Mike, your link didn't work.

:(
  #18  
Old 19-Mar-2004, 04:04
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RonBee
Mike, your link didn't work.

:(
Hmmm. I just tried it and it worked for me.
  #19  
Old 19-Mar-2004, 16:02
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Me too.
  #20  
Old 19-Mar-2004, 18:11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RonBee
Mike, your link didn't work.

:(
Have you tried it again? Perhaps Google burped. :?
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