The old lady cannot help ____ a cup of tea. (১৮তম শিক্ষক নিবন্ধন স্কুল: ২০২৪)
কto drink
খtake
গto taking
ঘhaving✓
ব্যাখ্যা
The correct answer is option (d) "having."
After the fixed expression 'cannot help', a Gerund (verb + ing) must be used.
Structure: cannot help + gerund. 'Having' is the gerund form of 'have'.
Example: 'I cannot help laughing.' / 'She cannot help worrying.'
✗ 'cannot help to drink' — incorrect structure. ✗ 'cannot help to taking' — doubly incorrect.
Source: A Practical English Grammar — Thomson & Martinet.