“warn sb. against sth./doing sth.”是英语中常用的警示类短语,核心含义是“警告某人提防/避免某事;告诫某人不要做某事”,强调提醒对方主动防范潜在的危险、错误或不良行为。
warn:动词,意为“警告;告诫”;
sb.:直接宾语(被警告的人);
against:介词,引出“需要防范/避免的对象”(可以是事物、行为或人)。
e.g.
The police warned residents against the stranger lingering near the school.(警方警告居民提防在学校附近徘徊的陌生人。)
The doctor warned him against smoking(= warned him not to smoke).(医生告诫他不要吸烟。)
由于“against”是介词,后面接动词时需用动名词形式,这是最常见的用法,相当于“warn sb. not to do sth.”,但更强调“防范”的主动性。
e.g.
Parents should warn kids against talking to strangers online.(父母应告诫孩子不要在网上和陌生人聊天。)
The teacher warned us against copying others’ homework.(老师警告我们不要抄别人的作业。)
warn sb. of sth.:侧重“提醒某人注意某件事(通常是已存在的危险或信息)”,不强调“避免”,仅传递“注意”。
e.g. The app warned me of the incoming storm.(应用提醒我注意即将到来的暴风雨。)
warn sb. off (sth./sb.):侧重“警告某人离开/远离(某事物/某人)”,更直接强调“物理或关系上的远离”。
e.g. The guard warned the teens off the construction site.(保安警告青少年离开建筑工地。)
The sign warns people against swimming in the deep end of the pool.(标志牌警告人们不要在泳池深水区游泳。)
I warned my friend against investing all his money in that risky project.(我警告朋友不要把所有钱都投到那个高风险项目里。)
The coach warned the players against being overconfident before the game.(教练告诫球员赛前不要过于自信。)
总结:当你想提醒他人“主动防范、避免某件有风险/错误的事”时,就可以用“warn sb. against sth./doing sth.”,它是口语和写作中都很实用的警示表达~