Emotions & feelings
can't help doing something
be unable to stop yourself doing something
If you can't help doing something, you cannot stop yourself from doing it.
Hear it in real life
Why are you smiling?
I can't help smiling when I see those photos.
I can't help laughing when my brother tells that story.
The mistake everyone makes
Not: I can't help myself to smile when I hear it.
Say: I can't help smiling when I hear it.
For an automatic reaction, use “can't help” followed directly by an -ing form.
Build it
How it fits in a sentence.
can't help smiling; couldn't help laughing
Your turn: say it out loud
I can't help laughing when my brother tells that story.
Say it out loud two or three times, until it feels like yours.
can't help doing something
be unable to stop yourself doing something
“I can't help laughing when my brother tells that story.”
heytardy
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