When do I use “aid” as a transitive verb and when do I use “aid in” (aid as an intransitive verb)?
According to Macmillan English Dictionary
[INTRANSITIVE/TRANSITIVE] to help something to happen more easily or
with fewer problems
- Gentle exercise aids the circulation of blood around the body.
- Vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron.
The two examples look similar to me. Why does the first one use “aid” and the second one use “aid in”?
One thread I have checked doesn’t directly address my question.
Difference between aid and aid in
Answer
The difference is subtle, but it’s one of specificity and whether you are describing what or how the action is taken.
In the first sentence, “circulation” is the object of “aids” as a transitive verb, meaning circulation is the thing being aided.
In the second sentence, “in the absorption” is a prepositional phrase that modifies the intransitive verb “aids,” indicating how the aiding is done. There is no explicit object in this sentence, so the reader is left to assume what is being aided (your body, your mother, teenagers, etc).
As stated in the comments on the page you cited, it’s more specific to give the object of the transitive verb than to use a prepositional phrase and leave the object missing or implied.
Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : luxury20041985 , Answer Author : geekahedron
