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can't help ~ing vs. can't help sb from ~ing



 
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ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
more clever or cleverer | any specific words for meat and vegetables in soup?
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can't help ~ing vs. can't help sb from ~ing #1 (permalink) Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:48 am   can't help ~ing vs. can't help sb from ~ing
 

I couldn’t help myself from dozing off while watching the movie.

At first, I wrote this sentence like this: I couldn't help dozing off while watching the movie. Then, a native proofread and changed it to "I couldn't help myself from dozing off~." I don't understand the difference between the two. Also, I can't find "cannot help oneself from ~ing" in dictionaries. Is it more informal? Rolling Eyes Would you tell me what the differences are?

Thank you in advance!
Sweetpumpkin
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can't help ~ing vs. can't help sb from ~ing #2 (permalink) Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:08 am   can't help ~ing vs. can't help sb from ~ing
 

Hi,

I would be quite happy with: 'I couldn't help dozing off ... ' The other construction seems too elaborate with 'help' and I would use it with another 'stronger' verb as in: I couldn't prevent/stop myself from ...'

Alan
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can't help ~ing vs. can't help sb from ~ing #3 (permalink) Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:33 am   can't help ~ing vs. can't help sb from ~ing
 

Alan, [kamsahapnida] ← This is a Korean expression for 'Thank you'. Very Happy
Sweetpumpkin
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Joined: 17 Dec 2007
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more clever or cleverer | any specific words for meat and vegetables in soup?
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