Carry you vs Help

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Carry you

Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Help

Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most common: Help
 Carry youHelp
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈkæri juː//🇺🇸 //ˈkæri ju//🇬🇧 /["/help/","/helps/","/helpt/","/ˈhelpɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/help/","/helps/","/helpt/","/ˈhelpɪŋ/"]/
MeaningTo take someone or something with you.to make it easier for someone to do something
ExampleI will carry you if you feel tired from walking.Can you help me with my homework?
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 5,000 (fairly common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A1
Part of speechverb
Collocationscarry you through, carry you along, carry you home, carry you on my backa lot, a bit, a little, be able to, can, be unable to, across, into, out of, help somebody to their feet, a way of helping, considerably, dramatically, enormously, be designed to, in, a lot, a bit, a little, be able to, can, be unable to, across, into, out of, help somebody to their feet, a way of helping
Antonyms-hinder, obstruct, delay
Common mistakesConfusing with 'take you' which may imply a different meaning., 'Carrying you' can sound too demanding; 'I'll carry you' is more supportive.Incorrectly saying 'help to me' instead of 'help me'., Using 'help' without an object (e.g., 'I need help' is correct, but 'I help' needs an object)., Confusing 'help' with 'assist' which has a more formal tone.
Usage notesUse 'carry you' when helping or supporting someone physically or emotionally. It's informal and usually involves a supportive context.Used in both spoken and written English. Appropriate in most contexts where assistance is needed. Less formal contexts may use alternatives like 'give a hand.' Avoid using ‘help’ in overly formal writing.

See it in real clips

Carry you
Help

Frequently asked questions: Carry you vs Help

What's the difference between Carry you and Help?

Carry you: To take someone or something with you. Help: to make it easier for someone to do something

Which is more common: Carry you and Help?

Help is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Carry you: I will carry you if you feel tired from walking. Help: Can you help me with my homework?

Can I use Carry you and Help interchangeably?

Not always. Carry you and Help are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons