Cool MatePrevent vs We have barred the gates
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Prevent
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
We have barred the gates
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Prevent
| Prevent | We have barred the gates | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/prɪˈvent/","/prɪˈvents/","/prɪˈventɪd/","/prɪˈventɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/prɪˈvent/","/prɪˈvents/","/prɪˈventɪd/","/prɪˈventɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //bɑːd//🇺🇸 //bɑrd// |
| Meaning | To stop something from happening. | We have closed the gates to stop entry. |
| Example | We need to prevent accidents on the road. | We have barred the gates to keep intruders out. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | effectively, reliably, successfully, be able to, be unable to, can, from, aimed at preventing something, action to prevent something, measures to prevent something | bar the entrance, bar access, bar the way, bar the path, bar a door |
| Antonyms | allow, permit, facilitate | - |
| Common mistakes | Incorrectly using 'prevent' without an object, e.g., 'prevent from accidents' instead of 'prevent accidents from happening'., Using the wrong preposition, like 'prevent to' instead of 'prevent from'., Confusing 'prevent' with 'avoid'; 'prevent' is more about stopping something from occurring. | Confused with 'bore' as in to drill a hole., Using 'barred' without a subject (the gates must be mentioned)., Mixing up with 'banned' which refers to prohibiting actions, not physical barriers. |
| Usage notes | Use 'prevent' when discussing actions that stop negative events. It is neutral, appropriate for everyday conversation. Avoid in very formal writing; use 'prohibit' or 'forbid' instead. | Used in contexts where access is restricted. Commonly used in security or metaphorical senses. |
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Frequently asked questions: Prevent vs We have barred the gates
What's the difference between Prevent and We have barred the gates?
Prevent: To stop something from happening. We have barred the gates: We have closed the gates to stop entry.
Which is more common: Prevent and We have barred the gates?
Prevent is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Prevent: We need to prevent accidents on the road. We have barred the gates: We have barred the gates to keep intruders out.
Can I use Prevent and We have barred the gates interchangeably?
Not always. Prevent and We have barred the gates are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.