The money helps the students with new clothes, pens and pencils.

[diamondcutter]

Many Chinese students raise money to help people in need. The money helps the students in poor areas like Yunan and Guansu with new clothes, pens and pencils.

One of my students wrote these sentences. I’m not so sure whether he used the structure “help somebody with something” correctly. What do you say?

 

[Tarheel]

It looks fine to me. What do you think is wrong with it?

 

[emsr2d2]

I would omit "the" before "students" in the second sentence.

 

[Tarheel]

I consider that one optional. In other words, I don't care if it's there or not.

 

[diamondcutter]

I used to think “help someone with something” means “give aid to someone in dealing with something”--something meant a certain activity. Now I know my understanding was too narrow.

 

[Tdol]

I would omit "the" before "students" in the second sentence.

It works better for me without the article as it is likely to help some rather than all.