scared him

USAGE SUMMARY

"scared him" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used as a verb phrase to describe causing someone to experience fear or apprehension. Example: The loud noise scared him and he jumped out of his chair.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That scared him.

Independent

What scared him most?

The Guardian - Film

She had scared him then; she scared him now.

The New Yorker

Nothing scared him.

The New York Times

It scared him.

The New York Times

You've scared him".

The New Yorker

That had really scared him.

The New York Times - Magazine

"They scared him pretty good".

The New York Times

I guess we scared him.

The Guardian - Music

This scared him even more.

The New York Times - Sports

Nothing and no one scared him.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scared him" to describe a direct emotional reaction of fear in a subject due to a specific event or person. For example, "The sudden noise scared him."

Common error

Avoid using "scared him" in constructions where the subject is unclear or grammatically awkward. For example, instead of saying "It was scared him," which is grammatically incorrect, say "It scared him" or "He was scared by it."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scared him" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "scared" is the past tense of the verb "to scare" and "him" is the object pronoun. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "scared him" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed verb phrase used to depict an action or occurrence that induced fear in a male individual. According to Ludwig, this construction is both grammatically correct and common in written English. A broad spectrum of authoritative sources, including The New York Times and The Guardian, demonstrates its applicability across diverse contexts, primarily within News & Media. While alternatives like "frightened him" or "made him afraid" exist, "scared him" serves as a straightforward and versatile option. When using the phrase, ensure clear subject-verb agreement and avoid incorrect passive constructions. This analysis, supported by Ludwig's AI and diverse examples, offers a thorough understanding of how to effectively use "scared him" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frightened him

Replaces "scared" with a synonym having a very similar meaning.

made him afraid

Uses a different verb and adjective to convey the same emotion.

filled him with fear

Emphasizes the intensity of the fear experienced.

instilled fear in him

More formal way of saying someone was scared.

he was terrified

Focuses on the state of the person experiencing fear.

he became frightened

Indicates a change of state to being scared.

gave him a fright

More colloquial expression for scaring someone.

caused him to be fearful

Formal and somewhat indirect way of expressing fear induction.

he was spooked

Informal expression for being scared, often suddenly.

he was intimidated

Suggests a sense of fear induced by power or authority.

FAQs

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

You can use "scared him" to describe an action that caused someone to feel fear. For example, "The unexpected phone call "scared him"."

What are some alternatives to "scared him"?

Some alternatives include "frightened him", "made him afraid", or "terrified him", depending on the intensity of the fear.

Is it correct to say "was scared him"?

No, "was scared him" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "he was scared" or "it scared him".

What's the difference between "scared him" and "he was scared"?

"Scared him" describes the action that caused the fear, while "he was scared" describes the state of being afraid. For example, "The movie scared him" (action) vs. "He was scared during the movie" (state).