'Prevent Someone/Something from Doing Something' or 'Prevent Someone/Something to Do Something'? | Mastering Grammar

(Last Updated: 25 April 2024)

Prevent Someone/Something from Doing Something or Prevent Someone/Something to Do Something: Which One Is Correct?

When using the verb prevent to talk about stopping someone from doing something or stopping something from happening, use the pattern prevent someone/something from doing something. The construction prevent someone/something to do something is incorrect:

✅ The strict rules prevent students from cheating during exams.
❌ The strict rules prevent students to cheat during exams.

✅ Installing good antivirus software can prevent hackers from accessing your personal information.
❌ Installing good antivirus software can prevent hackers to access your personal information.

✅ Wearing sunscreen can prevent you from getting sunburnt during the summer.
❌ Wearing sunscreen can prevent you to get sunburnt during the summer.

✅ Her wrist injury may prevent her from playing in tomorrow’s piano competition.
❌ Her wrist injury may prevent her to play in tomorrow's piano competition.

In British English, it is also common to omit the preposition from and simply say prevent someone/something doing something:

✅ The new policy will prevent employees using personal devices at work.

✅ The heavy curtains prevent sunlight fading the furniture.

✅ The firewall is designed to prevent malware infecting the computer system.

✅ Regular cleaning can prevent dust accumulating on the shelves.

However, omitting the preposition can sometimes lead to ambiguity. For example:

You can't prevent a chronically ill person living alone feeling pessimistic about life.

Without from, it is unclear which of the following is meant:

(A) You can't prevent a chronically ill person from living alone and feeling pessimistic about life. (This means being unable to prevent a chronically ill person from both living alone and feeling pessimistic about life.)

(B) You can't prevent a chronically ill person living alone from feeling pessimistic about life. (This means being unable to prevent a chronically ill person who lives alone from feeling pessimistic about life.)

For simple constructions, it is fine to leave out the preposition from. However, for longer sentences, it is advisable to include the preposition for clarity.

The entry for the verb prevent in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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Examples from the Media

From armrests on park benches to studs on concrete, such designs prevent people from using the space in a way other than its intended use. That includes homeless people seeking a safe place to spend the night. —Toronto Star (2018)

Washington will soon join 10 states across the country that have laws preventing children under 18 from getting married. —The Seattle Times (2024)

As a result of the Guardian's investigation, Meta has closed down some Instagram accounts and prevented users from searching for hashtags and emojis associated with pimp accounts that were used on more than 350,000 posts. —The Guardian (2024)

He insisted that the "tyranny of the closed door" was a major problem as it prevented teachers sharing their best ideas and lessons with their colleagues. —The Telegraph (2012)

Mr Morrison has vowed to prevent schools suspending students on the grounds of their sexuality but has asked for an expert review that will take until early 2023, fuelling frustration about the failure to deliver on a pledge he made in 2018. —The Sydney Morning Herald (2021)

Real-World Examples of Misuse

1. Blown, the past participle of blow, should be used to form the passive voice.
2. The correct construction with prevent is prevent someone from doing something, not prevent someone to do something.
(Source: St. Jomary Tutorial Centre)