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Can't help or Prevent - English lesson

We have just studied the restriction of the freedom of action test.

Let's keep going further! Here is now how to prevent an action! In two different ways:

 - on the one hand, the subject imposes the restriction on himself,

 - on the other hand, it can be imposed from the outside, by other people.

1)  The restriction is imposed by the subject himself: Subject + can't help +  V - ing  The subject admitted he could have no control over himself.

ex: I can't help dancing when I hear this music...

ex: He couldn't help thinking about his dead mother ...   

  : This expression is often used in the passive form:

ex: Alas, such a disaster can't be helped ! = it couldn't be avoided. 

2) The restriction is imposed from the outside world: To prevent somebody from doing something/ to keep somebody from doing something.

ex: My parents prevent me from drinking and driving !  

ex: His girl friend keeps him from inviting his pals to watch football matches at home ! 

This lesson is short and easy, isn't it ?   Are you ready for the test ?  Let's go !  

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1. I know you can't helpcan't preventcan't keeppreventedI don't know it, but I don't think you should laugh at her in such a way...

2. Of course, I could prevent'd kept'd be preventedI don't know eating chocolate endlessly ! But... it would just be a torture...

3. Pamela's father didn't prevent hercouldn't help herkept her fromI don't know falling into delinquency when she was a teenager...

4. Her parents are so strict... They kept her byprevent her fromcan't help herkeeped her fromI don't know going out on work nights and always give an early curfew...

5. He really can't helpcan't have keptcan't be keptcan't preventI don't know cheating during tests even if he knows the answers... It's one of his habits....

6. Paul can't preventedcan't keepingcan't keeping tocan't helpI don't know telling lies... just for fun! He's a professional liar!

7. No! I'm sorry but you won't keep meprevented mehave prevent mehelp meI don't know from leaving!

8. You have to keepshouldn't preventcan't have helpedI don't know him from apologising to her! He was terribly rude!

9. You'll never keep me fromprevent him inkept me onhelp him toI don't know doing what I want to do!

10. If you consider how much it snowed yesterday, the avalanche couldn't be helpedwas preventedhad to be helpedhad been keptI don't know but thankfully, its consequences could be reduced.