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< Language Generator 7—Помогать (To Help)

Language Generator 7—Помогать (To Help)

Use this universal language generator to say who helps whom to do what. The verb помогать (to help) never has a direct object, only an indirect object. This indirect object should be in the dative case. (Some grammars state that its direct object should be in the dative case, but this is just a different perspective.)

The reason it does not take a direct object is that when you are helping someone your effort is not generally exerted on the person himself, it is exerted on his problem. The person you are helping is the indirect object in the same way he would be if you were giving him a pencil.

Subject and VerbIndirect ObjectOptional Verbal Phrase

Кто помога́ет

Who helps

кому

whom

написа́ть письмо́.

to write a letter.

Я помога́ю

I help

мне

me

чита́ть стих.

to read a verse.

Мы помога́ем

We help

нам

us

покра́сить сте́ну.

to paint the wall.

Ты помога́ешь

Thou helpest

тебе

thee

откры́ть ба́нку.

to open an can.

Вы помога́ете

You help

вам

us

найти́ отве́т.

to find an answer.

Он/Она/Оно помога́ет

He/She/It helps

ему

him

гото́вить у́жин.

to prepare dinner.

Они́ помога́ют

They help

ей

her

встать.

to get up.

Ива́н помога́ет

John helps

им

them

принести́ во́ду.

to bring water.

А́нна помога́ет

Anna helps

Ива́ну

John



А́нне

Anna


As shown in the last column, a verb phrase may be added to specify the task with which help is needed. This phrase should be in the infinitive. (The verb should remain in dictionary form.)

There are other verbs which do not take direct objects. Some of the more commonly used ones are:

ве́рить

to believe

вреди́ть

to cause harm

зави́довать

to envy

меша́ть

to hinder

напомина́ть

to remind

повинова́ться

to obey, to subject oneself

позволя́ть

to allow

сове́товать

to advise, to offer counsel

служи́ть

to serve

In each of these cases if we look hard enough we can identify three sides to the action: the one who acts, the action taken, and the person affected by it. The person affected by it is considered the indirect object and is named in the dative case.