helps

Helps is most commonly the third-person singular present tense of the verb help, as in "she helps her neighbors." It can also function as a noun in certain uses, such as "a great help," though the plural form helps as a noun is rare in modern English and usually appears only in historical or specialized contexts.

Verb usage: As a verb, helps follows the standard English conjugation: I help, you help, he/she/it helps, we help, they help; past tense is helped; present participle is helping; past participle is helped. It is used to express assistance, facilitation, or making something easier. Common constructions include helps with, helps to, and helps someone or something do something. Examples: "The teacher helps students understand the material." "The policy helps reduce waste."

Noun usage: As a noun, help is normally uncountable when referring to assistance in general. A countable sense exists in phrases like "a help" meaning a person who helps, as in “She is a great help.” The plural form helps as a noun is uncommon in contemporary usage and tends to appear only in older or very specialized texts.

Etymology: Help derives from Old English helpan, related to West Germanic languages, with cognates such as Dutch helpen and German helfen. The term ultimately traces to Proto-Germanic roots and is connected to related words across the Germanic language family.

See also: helpful, helper, assistance, aid, support.