Can't help but thinking?

FrankU · Fri Jan 13, 2006 21:41 pm *Can't help but thinking?*

Hi, is it true that I can't help but is a nonstandard phrase? What is a nonstardard phrase anyway? Does that mean it is a colloquial expression? And is I can't help but followed by an infinitive or a gerund? So, would it be correct to say I can't help but thinking... be correct? For those of you who are Internet savvy enough to use Google to verify if a phrase is correct or not - I did google I can't help but thinking and it yielded about 14.000 pages but I can't help but think produced more than 600.000 pages so now I'm not so sure which version is the correct one.
Thanks in advance,
FrankU

Alan · Fri Jan 13, 2006 21:45 pm *Can't help*

Hi FrankU,

I would say I can't help but think (infinitive). Possibly the idea of the gerund comes from: I can't help thinking.

Alan
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FrankU · Fri Jan 13, 2006 21:57 pm *Can't help thinking*

Hi Alan, that was fast! Thanks and good evening. So if I understand you correctly, those are two different constructions:

I can't help but think this is the wrong approach.
I can't help thinking this is the wrong approach.

Do both expressions mean the same?

Alan · Fri Jan 13, 2006 22:09 pm *Can't help*

Hi FrankU,

Yes, they both mean the same but to my mind: I can't help thinking has a more natural sound about it.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Are you a Persuader?

FrankU · Fri Jan 13, 2006 22:39 pm *Can't help thinking*

OK Alan, now I got it. Thanks again.
Frank

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