help somebody do or to do something?

[chance22]

This question is about the very basic use of the word "help".
I had been taught to believe that I can say either "help somebody to do something" or "help somebody do something". But recently in a book it writes that native speakers use "help somebody do something" and "help do something" instead of "help somebody to do something" or "help to do something". Is this right? I'm a bit confused.

 

[philo2009]

Natives generally omit the 'to' simply because it is optional.

 

[chance22]

Natives generally omit the 'to' simply because it is optional.

Does it mean that I can both say that "Dogs help their owners to forge intimate, long-term relationships with other people" and that "Dogs help their owners forge intimate, long-term relationships with other people"? Or at least the first sentence is not wrong?

 

[Chicken Sandwich]

Yes, as philo2009 said, the "to" is optional.