warned him against

USAGE SUMMARY

"warned him against" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone gave an admonition or warning against something to another person. Example: My dad warned me against taking shortcuts when driving.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When he approached 90, his doctors warned him against it.

The New York Times

They warned him against closing off streets for protests.

The Washington Post

His mother said she had warned him against it.

The New York Times

Shortly before the shooting, a constituent had warned him against going around the city unescorted.

The New York Times

Both South Korea and China had warned him against doing so.

The Economist

But the commander in chief of the British army had warned him against precipitate action.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Susan Davis, DeMuth's secretary, warned him against coming out to DeMuth.

The New Yorker

The attorney warned him against the seeming opportunity, as did Barbara Worley.

The New Yorker

Some House Republicans have already warned him against cutting a deal without seeking their approval first.

The New York Times

Then on Tuesday, threatening legal action, it warned him against organizing a boycott of the election.

The New York Times

Eduard Shevardnadze visited Karimov on being ousted and warned him against Soros and other NGOs.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add impact, follow "warned him against" with a brief explanation of potential negative consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "warned him against" without clearly specifying what he was warned against. The omission can lead to confusion about the potential risks or undesirable outcomes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "warned him against" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a transitive verb followed by a prepositional phrase. It indicates that someone gave a caution or admonition to another person regarding a specific action or situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "warned him against" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to indicate that someone cautioned another person regarding a particular action or situation. Ludwig AI confirms that is widely used and considered valid in written English. Its frequency is very high, particularly in News & Media sources. When using this phrase, it's important to clearly specify the action or situation being cautioned against to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "advised him not to" and "cautioned him against", offering slight variations in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cautioned him against

Replaces "warned" with a synonym, suggesting a slightly milder degree of concern.

forewarned him about

Emphasizes the act of warning someone in advance about something negative.

advised him not to

Uses a more direct construction, focusing on the advice given rather than the warning.

dissuaded him from

Implies a successful effort to convince someone not to do something.

counseled him against

Suggests a more formal and considered approach to giving advice.

urged him to reconsider

Focuses on the act of urging someone to rethink their decision, rather than a direct warning.

admonished him regarding

Uses a more formal term, "admonished", indicating a stronger, more authoritative warning.

alerted him to the risks of

Shifts the focus to highlighting the potential dangers involved.

put him on notice about

More informal expression, indicating a clear warning about potential consequences.

expressed reservations about

Highlights the speaker's doubts or concerns, rather than a direct prohibition.

FAQs

How can I use "warned him against" in a sentence?

Use "warned him against" to indicate that someone cautioned another person about a potential negative consequence or undesirable outcome. For example, "His colleagues "warned him against" focusing on controversial topics early in his career."

What are some alternatives to "warned him against"?

Alternatives include "advised him not to", "cautioned him against", or "dissuaded him from depending" on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "warned him from" instead of "warned him against"?

While "warned him against" is the standard and more widely accepted phrasing, "warned him from" is less common and may sound awkward to some native English speakers. "Warned him against" is almost always the better option.

What's the difference between "warned him against" and "advised him against"?

"Warned him against" typically implies a stronger sense of potential danger or negative consequences, while "advised him against" suggests a more general recommendation against a particular course of action. The former is a stronger caution, the latter a suggestion.