I like that

[rosevioletsong]

in German "to help" is an intransitive verb.

Comments

[rachelsahm]

I wouldn't call it intransitive, I'd call it dative.

Ich helfe. = I'm helping.
Ich helfe ihm. = I'm helping him.
Ich helfe ihm, den Hund zu streicheln. = I'm helping him pet the dog.

"intransitive" is the best translation we have for "dative", but it's not exactly the same, from what I've gathered.

[rosevioletsong]

Oh, yeah!

I like the idea that you only help someone else indirectly and not directly.