obstruct from doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obstruct from doing" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct form would typically be "obstruct someone from doing something." Example: "The heavy traffic obstructed us from reaching the airport on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We carried out a preliminary morphometric analysis to elucidate the importance of this effect and found that the glaciers of the eastern Sierra Nevada may have eroded headward at considerably faster rates than rivers, but only when they were not obstructed from doing so by either competing larger glaciers in adjacent valleys or transfluent ice at the head of the basin.

Geomorphology

There are many things I wish he had had not been obstructed from doing by implacable opposition.

Huffington Post

There is a reason Congress is being obstructed from doing what it always did and taking this opportunity of low interest rates, high unemployment and low GDP growth to do the infrastructure work that needs doing.

Huffington Post

If the government is obstructing them from doing their work, they should call the government on their bluff".

Vice

I saw people in the crowd throwing punches at police officers, I saw police officers moving people who were obstructing them or preventing them from doing their job.

Vice

Respect for another's identity consists in part in refraining from doing certain actions: in not obstructing an individual's ability to enact her identity in her choices or to work to change it if she so desires.

SEP

Closed-shop arrangements, for example, are not allowed and the constitution grants all individuals the right to set up trade unions, or to abstain from doing so, and declares all steps to obstruct this right as illegal.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

6.08pm GMT 45 min Dulin chips and thinks he was obstructed, as do the crowd.

The Guardian - Sport

Lung tissue distal to a completely obstructed bronchiole often does not become infected.

Wikipedia

The president faces an unremittingly hostile Republican majority in the Congress that benefited from obstructing everything he sought to do in his first two years, and that cowers in fear of its aroused right-wing base.

Huffington Post

They would obstruct the counting that did begin.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey that someone or something is preventing another from acting, use the structure "obstruct someone from doing something". For example, "The crowd obstructed the police from doing their job."

Common error

Avoid using "obstruct from doing" without specifying who or what is being obstructed. This phrasing is grammatically incorrect and sounds awkward. Always specify the object of the obstruction; e.g., use "obstruct them from doing something" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obstruct from doing" is typically intended to function as a verb phrase expressing the action of hindering or preventing someone from performing an action. However, the construction is grammatically incorrect according to Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "obstruct from doing" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this assessment. The correct usage involves specifying the entity being obstructed and using the structure "obstruct someone from doing something". Alternatives like "prevent from doing", "hinder from doing", or "stop from doing" are recommended to convey the intended meaning effectively and accurately. When writing, ensure you clearly identify who or what is being obstructed to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Prevent from doing

Replaces "obstruct" with "prevent", maintaining the core meaning of stopping an action.

Hinder from doing

Substitutes "obstruct" with "hinder", implying a slowing down or making difficult, rather than a complete stop.

Stop from doing

Uses "stop" as a more direct and simpler alternative to "obstruct".

Impede from doing

Replaces "obstruct" with "impede", suggesting a more significant hindrance.

Restrain from doing

Emphasizes a holding back or controlling, rather than a direct blocking.

Block from doing

Uses "block" as a more physical and direct synonym for "obstruct".

Inhibit from doing

Suggests a suppression or holding back, often in a more subtle or psychological way.

Discourage from doing

Implies a dissuasion, making someone less likely to do something, rather than a direct obstruction.

Interfere with doing

Highlights the disruptive nature of preventing an action.

Preclude from doing

Indicates that something makes an action impossible.

FAQs

How should I correctly use "obstruct" in a sentence?

The correct structure is "obstruct someone/something from doing something". For example: "The fallen tree obstructed the road, preventing cars from passing."

What are some alternatives to "obstruct someone from doing something"?

You can use phrases like "prevent from doing", "hinder from doing", or "stop from doing" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "obstruct to do" grammatically correct?

No, "obstruct to do" is not grammatically correct. The correct form involves the preposition "from" followed by a gerund: "obstruct someone from doing something".

What's the difference between "obstruct" and "prevent" when describing actions?

"Obstruct" implies creating an obstacle or blockage, while "prevent" suggests stopping something from happening altogether. They are similar, but "obstruct" focuses on the impediment itself, while "prevent" emphasizes the outcome. Thus, you may use phrases like "prevent from doing" instead.