Cool MateHelp vs They've done us a great favor
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Help
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
They've done us a great favor
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Help
| Help | They've done us a great favor | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/help/","/helps/","/helpt/","/ˈhelpɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/help/","/helps/","/helpt/","/ˈhelpɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeɪv dʌn ʌs ə ɡreɪt ˈfeɪ.vər//🇺🇸 //ðeɪv dʌn ʌs ə ɡreɪt ˈfeɪ.vɚ// |
| Meaning | to make it easier for someone to do something | They helped us a lot. |
| Example | Can you help me with my homework? | They've done us a great favor by helping us move last weekend. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | 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, 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 | ask for a favor, do someone a favor, return the favor |
| Antonyms | hinder, obstruct, delay | - |
| Common mistakes | 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. | Using 'make' instead of 'do' (e.g., 'They've made us a great favor')., Confusing 'favor' with 'favour' in British English., Adding unnecessary modifiers (e.g., 'They've really done us a great favor'). |
| Usage notes | 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. | Used in both formal and informal contexts to express gratitude for help. Common in everyday conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Help vs They've done us a great favor
What's the difference between Help and They've done us a great favor?
Help: to make it easier for someone to do something They've done us a great favor: They helped us a lot.
Which is more common: Help and They've done us a great favor?
Help is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Help: Can you help me with my homework? They've done us a great favor: They've done us a great favor by helping us move last weekend.
Can I use Help and They've done us a great favor interchangeably?
Not always. Help and They've done us a great favor 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.