can't help thinking or gerund

[ostap77]

"I can't help thinking about the girl I met at the party last night."

OR

"I can't help but think about the girl I met at the party last night."

What's the difference in meaning?

 

[birdeen's call]

"I can't help thinking about the girl I met at the party last night."

OR

"I can't help but think about the girl I met at the party last night."

What's the difference in meaning?

"I can't help but..." is non-standard.

 

[ostap77]

"I can't help but..." is non-standard.

So it's grammatically incorrect? Here is what I've just read in a grammar text-book "Can't help but+infinitive without to is sometimes used with the meaning of "can't help.....ing".

 

[5jj]

"I can't help but..." is non-standard.

I am not so sure that it is, these days.

The Oxford ALD lists it as idiomatic, with the example: She couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.

I think I use it.

 

[birdeen's call]

I think I use it.

I'm pretty sure I do.

 

[ostap77]

I'm pretty sure I do.

So it can be used in the following context " I can't help but think about what's going to happen to us all if we don't pass this exam"?

 

[bhaisahab]

So it can be used in the following context " I can't help but think about what's going to happen to us all if we don't pass this exam"?

It's OK with "about".

 

[TheNewOne]

ostap77
Do you speak Russian? This is what my dictionary gives as examples:
She can't help thinking of it. — Она не может не думать об этом.
a)I could not help laughing. — Я не мог удержаться от смеха; я не мог не засмеяться.
b)I couldn't help but laugh. — Я не мог не смеяться.

a) and b) are equal here, but birdeen's call and fivejedjon say that they can't be used with the same meaning :-?

 

[ostap77]

ostap77
Do you speak Russian? This is what my dictionary gives as examples:
She can't help thinking of it. — Она не может не думать об этом.
a)I could not help laughing. — Я не мог удержаться от смеха; я не мог не засмеяться.
b)I couldn't help but laugh. — Я не мог не смеяться.

a) and b) are equal here, but birdeen's call and fivejedjon say that they can't be used with the same meaning :-?

Not as good as you do;-)Fivejedjon just gave an example from the text-book. He didn't say that we can't use it. Thanks for you explanation.

 

[ostap77]

It's OK with "about".

There would be no difference between 1)"can't help thinking" and 2)"can't help but think"? One of my text-books says 2) more American. Is frequently used in BE?

 

[5jj]

ostap77
a)I could not help laughing. — Я не мог удержаться от смеха; я не мог не засмеяться.
b)I couldn't help but laugh. — Я не мог не смеяться.

a) and b) are equal here, but birdeen's call and fivejedjon say that they can't be used with the same meaning :-?

As ostap pointed out, I didn't say they can't be used with the same meaning.
I am more likely to say #a, but I think I might say #b.

 

[birdeen's call]

As ostap pointed out, I didn't say they can't be used with the same meaning.

I didn't say that either.

 

[TheNewOne]

Ok, ok, you didn't say that ;-)

 

[jessica.permatasari]

"I can't help thinking about the girl I met at the party last night."

OR

"I can't help but think about the girl I met at the party last night."

What's the difference in meaning?

I've never thought about it before..:roll:
I used to use the first sentence. It means that I can't stop thinking about her. I think about her all the time.

For the second sentence, I wonder that "but" here means "except"
Am I right? :?:

 

[Tdol]

It means I can't stop thinking/can't do anything except think.

 

[TheParser]

"I can't help thinking about the girl I met at the party last night."

OR

"I can't help but think about the girl I met at the party last night."

What's the difference in meaning?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****
************************


Ostap,


Thank you for posting this question. It forced me to read the other

posts very carefully, check my books, google, communicate with an

outstanding teacher, and spend time just thinking. I now wish to share

what I think that I have learned.


Sentence No. 1


I cannot but think about the girl (whom/ that) I met at the party

last night.

This is very formal and literary. All books agree this is correct English.

I think few Americans ever use it. In fact, I suspect that many Americans

think that it is incorrect!!!

If I understand Professor George O. Curme, this sentence comes from:

I cannot [do anything] but [that I do] think about the girl I met at the

party last night.

If you do any university-level writing in the future, you might consider

using the "cannot but + bare infinitive" idiom.


Sentence No. 2

I cannot help thinking about the girl I met at the party last night.

This is very popular. All books agree that this is correct English.

This is usually explained as: I cannot stop myself from thinking

about her.


Sentence 3

I cannot help but think about the girl I met at the party last night.

MANY books (and teachers) nowadays say that this is fine English.

I personally have no doubt that most Americans use this and sentence

No. 2 with no problems. In fact, Professor Curme says that some of the

best American and British writers have used this idiom.

SOME books (and teachers) say (a) Do not use it or (b) Use it only

in speech -- never in formal writing. Why? Because they say that

"cannot help but" is a confusing mixture of "cannot but" +

"cannot help."

*****

In summary:

(1) You are a learner. If you want to be sure of speaking and writing

correct English, try to use sentences No. 1 and No. 2.

(2) If you hear or read sentences such as No. 3, remember that it is

considered correct by most Americans who use it regularly with no

problems. In fact, I can imagine this dialogue:

Ostap: I cannot but think about the girl I met last night.

An American friend (who does not know the rules):

Oh, sorry, Ostap. But that is bad English. You should say, "I cannot

help but think about the girl I met last night." (!!!)

THANK YOU

 

[~Mav~]

I can't help but...

"I can't help but..." is non-standard.

I am not so sure that it is, these days.

The Oxford ALD lists it as idiomatic, with the example: She couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.

I think I use it.

I remembered that emsr2d2, a sophisticated British lady and an English teacher, had used "I cannot hep but..." in one of her posts. :-D I took the effort and searched her posts, and I'm happy to tell all of you that I have found it. :-D Here it is:

If you only teach spoken English, then I guess it's possible that the problem is simply with your written English, but if your post above is an example of what you are teaching the children, then I cannot help but be concerned.

I have been using this phrase ("I can't/cannot help but...) ever since I read her post.