What Does “Carry sb through” Mean?
“Carry sb through” means to help someone survive or manage a difficult time or situation, often by providing support or resources.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “carry sb through” is commonly used in English to describe the act of supporting someone during challenging moments. Whether it’s emotional, financial, or physical support, this phrase highlights the idea of helping another person overcome obstacles. Understanding the carry sb through meaning is useful for learners because it appears frequently in both spoken and written English. By mastering this phrase, you can express empathy and assistance clearly and naturally.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: carry somebody through
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to help someone survive or cope with a difficult period
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Carry sb through” is a transitive phrasal verb and is separable. You can place the object (somebody) between “carry” and “through” or after the whole phrase.
- carry someone through
- carry through someone
Both forms are correct, but the first is more common.
How to Use “Carry sb through”?
Use “carry sb through” when you want to describe helping someone get through tough times. It often involves emotional support, practical help, or financial aid. For example, you might say, “Her friends carried her through the difficult months after the accident.”
The phrase is usually followed by the person receiving help and sometimes the difficult situation:
- carry someone through a difficult time
- carry someone through an illness
Examples
- His family carried him through the loss of his job.
- The scholarship carried her through university.
- Good friends can carry you through hard times.
- Carry sb through in a sentence: “The money from her savings carried her through the unexpected expenses.”
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: She carried through me during my illness.
Correct: She carried me through my illness. - Incorrect: They carried me through the problem.
Correct: They carried me through the problem. - Incorrect: Carry me through the exam.
Correct: Help me carry through the exam. (Use “carry sb through” with support, not direct action)
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Get through: Focuses on successfully finishing something difficult. Example: “She got through the exam.”
- Help sb out: Means to assist someone, but not necessarily through a tough time. Example: “Can you help me out with this task?”
“Carry sb through” implies continuous support during hardship, while “get through” is about completion, and “help out” is more general assistance.
Common Collocations
- carry someone through difficult times
- carry someone through illness
- carry someone through financial problems
- carry someone through hardship
- carry someone through challenges
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of carry sb through:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I don’t know how I managed to get through last year.
Ben: Your family really carried you through, didn’t they?
Anna: Yes, without their support, it would have been impossible.
Practice
Fill in the blank:
Her friends helped ________ her ________ the tough times after the accident.
- a) carry / through
- b) get / through
- c) help / out
FAQs
- Q: Can “carry sb through” be used for physical help?
A: Yes, but it usually means emotional or financial support. - Q: Is “carry sb through” formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. - Q: Can I say “carry me through the exam”?
A: It’s better to say “help me get through the exam.” - Q: What is the difference between “carry sb through” and “get through”?
A: “Carry sb through” means to support someone during difficulty; “get through” means to successfully finish something.
