it disturbed him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it disturbed him" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is a simple subject-verb-object sentence, with "it" being the subject, "disturbed" being the verb, and "him" being the object. You can use this phrase to describe a situation where something has caused discomfort or disruption to someone. For example, "The loud music disturbed him while he was trying to study for his exam." This sentence indicates that the loud music caused the person to feel uncomfortable or distracted while they were trying to focus on studying.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It disturbed him to discover footnotes in the back of both books.

The New Yorker

It disturbed him that eros appeared to float so freely, so lavishly, and to attach itself at random.

The Guardian - Books

It disturbed him greatly that the society's founders attempted to define who was Pennsylvania Dutch and who was not based on the purity of their blood.

University of Pennsylvania

It disturbed him that most of the region's seafood — including rare and costly items like abalone, urchins, and sea cucumbers — went to the Far East.

The New Yorker

It disturbed him that most of the region's seafood including rare and costly items like abalone, urchins, and sea cucumbers went to the Far East.

The New Yorker

He said it disturbed him when African-American teenagers like his "very charismatic and smart" brother Raheen come into his shop for a haircut and tell him they've enlisted.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

She unplugs the phone in the hall, in case it disturbs him.

The New Yorker

It disturbs him that the stigma has now penalized the football team.

The New York Times

He started slowly in India but did not let it disturb him and he has deserved his chance.

Independent

"We all smoke in my family, but we never noticed that it disturbs him, never," François Godonneix, 24, said of his 4-year-old Labrador.

The New York Times - Health

That may be part of why the grisly nature of Mike's fate, and the possibility that some of his buddies were responsible for it, disturbs him so much.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it disturbed him", ensure that the pronoun "it" clearly refers to a specific preceding subject or situation to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it disturbed him" for minor inconveniences. Reserve this phrase for situations that genuinely caused significant unease or distress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it disturbed him" functions as a statement expressing that something caused emotional or mental unease in a person. The pronoun "it" acts as the subject, "disturbed" is the verb indicating the action, and "him" is the object, identifying the person affected. As Ludwig AI notes, this is a grammatically correct subject-verb-object construction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

33%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it disturbed him" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood way to express that something caused someone unease or disruption. While Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, it's important to consider the context and intensity of the disturbance when using this phrase. As the examples from Ludwig demonstrate, it can be applied to various situations, ranging from unsettling news events to personal observations. Consider using related phrases, such as "it troubled him" or "it bothered him", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it troubled him

Replaces "disturbed" with a synonym suggesting worry or unease.

it bothered him

Uses a more common synonym for "disturbed", indicating a sense of annoyance or concern.

it unsettled him

Focuses on the feeling of being mentally or emotionally disrupted.

it worried him

Emphasizes the anxiety or concern caused by something.

it concerned him

Highlights the aspect of something being important enough to cause worry.

it alarmed him

Indicates a sense of fear or apprehension.

it perturbed him

Uses a more formal synonym for "disturbed", suggesting a state of agitation.

it disquieted him

Emphasizes a loss of peace or tranquility.

it agitated him

Suggests a state of restlessness or anxiety.

it distressed him

Indicates significant emotional pain or suffering.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it disturbed him" to sound more formal?

Consider using alternatives such as "it perturbed him" or "it disquieted him" for a more elevated tone.

What's a more casual way to say "it disturbed him"?

For a less formal context, you could say "it bothered him" or "it unsettled him".

Is there a difference between "it disturbed him" and "it troubled him"?

While similar, "it troubled him" often implies a deeper sense of worry or concern than "it disturbed him", which can simply mean it disrupted his peace of mind.

Can "it disturbed him" be used to describe physical discomfort?

While primarily used for emotional or mental disturbance, "it disturbed him" could describe physical discomfort if the sensation is also unsettling, such as a persistent, unnerving itch.