They helped others.

Meaning: This means someone gave assistance or support to people other than themselves.

Choice of Words: Helped means to give assistance or support to someone. Others means people other than the speaker or the person being spoken to. When you put them together, "Helped others" means someone gave assistance or support to people other than themselves.

Alternative Expressions

They were helpful to others.

Meaning: This means that a group of people provided assistance or support to other people or things in the past.

Choice of Words: They refers to a group of people or things. Were indicates that something was true in the past. Helpful means providing assistance or support. Others means other people or things besides the speaker or writer. When you put them together, "They were helpful to others" describes a group of people who provided assistance to others in the past.

They had a helping hand for others.

Meaning: This means that a group of people were willing and able to provide assistance or support to other people or things.

Choice of Words: They refers to a group of people or things. Had indicates that something was possessed or owned. Helping means providing assistance or support. Hand can refer to a person's ability or willingness to help. Others means other people or things besides the speaker or writer. When you put them together, "They had a helping hand for others" describes a group of people who were willing and able to provide assistance to others.

Related Expressions