Help with "help"

[Gość: Tomi]

I've got a problem with "help". What's a correct sentence construction with
this word? I mean, should be added "to" after it or not?
Example: It helps do smth...
Or: It helps to do smth..
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The next question refers to words "this' and "that". Why we sometimes
use "this" and sometimes "that". Where is the diffeence? Yes I already know
their meanings when I point at smth. But what when I write a letter? Maybe we
use "that", I suppose, when we're talking about more abstract things?

[Gość: willy]

1.it depends on context: in most instances in which help functions as a verb,
you would add the preposition to; in places where help functions as a noun,
you would not add it.


2. this refers to a thing at hand, near you. that, on the other hand, refers
to something farther away frm you or the other thing/option/idea that does not
belong to you. one is near and the other away, as if.

[zegar4]

Gość portalu: willy napisał(a):

> 1.it depends on context: in most instances in which help functions as a verb,
> you would add the preposition to; in places where help functions as a noun,
> you would not add it.

Examples would be helpful.

> 2. this refers to a thing at hand, near you. that, on the other hand, refers
> to something farther away frm you or the other thing/option/idea that does
not
> belong to you. one is near and the other away, as if.

Examples would be helpful.

[Gość: leniuch]

Oxford Student´s Dictionary of Current English, 1983:

1) I can´t lift t h i s box by myself, please help me. - We helped the old man
out of the car. - Would it help you to know ... - Help yourself to the fruit. -
I can´t help thinking he is still alive. - It can´t be helped (is inevitable).

2) this: the person or thing nearby, touched, etc or drawn attention to be
known: What´s this? ... These are better than those.

3 that: the person or thing pointed to or drawn attention to (and often far from
the speaker), named or understood to be known: Look at that man/those men. What
was that noise? What noise was that? This book is muach better than that. ...

[Gość: B.]

"I helped him do his homework."
"I helped him TO do his homework." - NO DIFFERENCE whether there is TO
after "help" or not.