was prevented from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was prevented from' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something was not allowed to happen or that someone was stopped from doing something. For example: He was prevented from seeing his family due to travel restrictions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I was prevented from defending my clients," he said.

The New York Times

As punishment, Woodfox was prevented from going outside.

The New Yorker

Abramson was prevented from commenting by a non-disclosure agreement.

The Guardian

She was prevented from competing because she is Jewish.

The New York Times - Sports

But he was prevented from forcing a vote today.

The New York Times

She was prevented from following the man into the E.R.

The New Yorker

Castro – the only witness to the murder – was prevented from leaving Honduras for a month.

The Guardian

But she was prevented from traveling outside China to receive awards in 2001 and 2003.

The New York Times

He was prevented from voting because of his previous roles in other media companies.

The New York Times

At one stage their young daughter was prevented from going to school.

The Guardian

ePersian Radio says he was prevented from leaving home this morning.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was prevented from" to clearly indicate that an action or event was deliberately stopped by an external force or circumstance. This phrasing adds clarity and emphasizes the cause of prevention.

Common error

Avoid using active voice when the passive voice is more appropriate. For example, instead of "They prevented him from leaving", use "He was prevented from leaving" to focus on the person being affected by the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was prevented from" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone or something was stopped or hindered from performing an action. It emphasizes the state of being prevented, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was prevented from" is a common and grammatically correct passive phrase used to express that someone or something was stopped or hindered from performing an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, especially in news, scientific, and general writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates the external force or circumstance causing the prevention. Consider alternatives like "was prohibited from" or "was barred from" to fine-tune the nuance of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was prohibited from

Indicates a formal ban or legal restriction.

was barred from

Suggests exclusion from a place or activity.

was blocked from

Implies an obstruction or barrier preventing access or progress.

was restrained from

Highlights the act of being held back or controlled.

was stopped from

A more general term for being halted or interrupted.

was hindered from

Emphasizes the difficulty or obstacle in performing an action.

was impeded from

Similar to hindered, but suggests a more significant obstruction.

was obstructed from

Focuses on the physical or metaphorical blockage encountered.

was forestalled from

Indicates that something was preempted or anticipated to prevent it.

was precluded from

Implies that conditions made the action impossible or impractical.

FAQs

How can I use "was prevented from" in a sentence?

Use "was prevented from" to indicate that someone or something was stopped or hindered from doing something. For example, "She was prevented from attending the meeting due to illness."

What are some alternatives to "was prevented from"?

You can use alternatives like "was prohibited from", "was barred from", or "was blocked from" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "was prevented from" or "could not"?

"Was prevented from" implies an external force or circumstance hindered the action, while "could not" suggests an inability or lack of capacity. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the external obstruction or the internal limitation.

What's the difference between "was prevented from" and "was avoided"?

"Was prevented from" means something was stopped from happening, while "was avoided" means something was deliberately steered clear of. For instance, "The accident was prevented from happening by quick thinking" versus "The crowded street was avoided by taking a detour".