Preventing an event or action

The idea

Use prevent with a noun, or prevent someone from doing something.

Examples

• A fence prevents accidents.
• The rain prevented us from playing outside.
• A lid prevents the soup from spilling.
• The warning prevented a serious mistake.
• The noise prevented her from sleeping.
• Regular breaks can prevent fatigue.

Watch out

Do not use an infinitive after from: say prevent them from leaving, not prevent them from to leave.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct form. The ice prevented them ___ cycling. (from / to)

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   from

   From introduces the action blocked by the ice.

2. Choose the correct form. A cover can prevent the paint from ___. (drying / dry)

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   drying

   Drying names the process the cover stops.

3. Choose the correct form. The barrier ___ a collision yesterday. (prevented / prevents)

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   prevented

   Prevented places the collision that did not occur in the past.

Use it today

Describe something that prevented a problem.