help him get better

[navi tasan]

Which are correct?

1) I can't help him get better.
2) I can't help him to get better.

3) I can't help him getting better.
4) I can't help his getting better.

I'd use '1', but I am not sure the other ones are incorrect.

 

[Piscean]

The first two are fine. HELP is one of the very few verbs that can be followed by a to- or a bare infinitive with no difference in meaning.

The other two don't work for me.

 

[emsr2d2]

1) I can't help him get better.
2) I can't help him to get better.
3) I can't help him getting better.
4) I can't help his getting better.

[Cross-posted with Piscean]

 

[Skrej]

3 and 4 are grammatically possible, but have such a limited context that they're very unnatural.

They also have an almost opposite meaning of the first two - the person is improving, and there's nothing the narrator can do to stop it. Either that, or the speaker is stating that they can't control the fact that the other person is improving - a denial of involvement.

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you all very much,

Yes, I can see that now.

3a) I can't help him getting worse.
4a) I can't help his getting worse.

would work, right?

 

[Skrej]

With the same caveats regarding naturalness as post #4, yes. Only this time, the speaker can't stop or isn't responsible for his worsening condition instead of his improving condition.