I stopped him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I stopped him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing an action where you prevented someone from continuing with what they were doing. Example: "As he was about to leave the room, I stopped him to discuss the project further."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I stopped him outside.

The New Yorker

"I stopped him and thanked him.

The New York Times - Sports

He hit me, so I stopped him.

The Guardian - Sport

I stopped him before he could go any further.

The New Yorker

So I stopped him and said we needed to talk.

The New York Times

"I stopped him and left crying," Mr. Murillo said.

The New York Times

He went to pick it up and I stopped him.

The Washington Post

"Imagine if I stopped him playing and Brazil lost.

The Guardian - Sport

I stopped him, shouting, "What have you done?

The New Yorker

"I stopped him because I didn't want him to break down.

The New York Times - Sports

I stopped him at 110th and told him what the woman had said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I stopped him" when you want to convey that you intervened to prevent someone from doing something. It's a direct and easily understood phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "I stopped him" when a milder intervention like a suggestion or a simple request would be more appropriate. This phrase implies a more significant action than simply offering advice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I stopped him" functions as a declarative statement, where the subject 'I' performs the action of stopping someone else, referred to as 'him.' According to Ludwig, this phrase describes preventing someone from continuing what they were doing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I stopped him" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to convey that the speaker prevented someone from continuing an action. According to Ludwig, its straightforward nature makes it suitable for various contexts. While "I stopped him" is quite versatile, it's important to consider the context and potential implications when choosing it over other alternatives like "I prevented him" or "I halted him", which may imply a different level of intervention. It's widely used in neutral settings, particularly within news and media, and less frequently in encyclopedias and wikis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I prevented him

Focuses on actively hindering the action.

I halted him

Suggests a more abrupt and forceful stop.

I intervened with him

Highlights taking action to interrupt or change a situation involving him.

I checked him

Implies a mild form of stopping, often used in sports or when correcting someone.

I held him back

Suggests physically restraining him or preventing him from advancing.

I dissuaded him

Focuses on convincing him not to do something through reasoning.

I talked him out of it

Implies convincing him to abandon an idea or plan.

I restrained him

Suggests a physical or authoritative stop.

I blocked him

Suggests preventing passage or progress, literally or figuratively.

I shut him down

Implies a forceful and decisive end to his activity or argument.

FAQs

How can I use "I stopped him" in a sentence?

Use "I stopped him" when you want to indicate you prevented someone from continuing an action. For example: "He was about to reveal the secret, but "I stopped him"."

What are some alternatives to "I stopped him"?

You can use alternatives like "I prevented him", "I halted him", or "I checked him" depending on the context.

Is "I stopped him" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I stopped him" is grammatically correct and follows standard English sentence structure.

What's the difference between "I stopped him" and "I paused him"?

"I stopped him" implies bringing his action to a complete end, whereas "I paused him" suggests a temporary interruption. Choose the phrase that best fits the situation.