American Phrases for Warning or Advising Someone

American Phrases for Warning or Advising Someone

The other day, I started crossing a busy street in Washington, D.C., while looking at my phone. Suddenly, I heard a man shout, "Watch out!" He was telling me about an oncoming car. I did not know that the crossing light was red. The words "Watch out!" made me quickly return to the sidewalk.

I learned¹ something that day: Phones can be distracting²! And I remembered how useful warnings are.

To warn someone means to tell the person about possible danger or trouble. In English, there are several ways to do this.

Today on Everyday Grammar, we will talk about warning phrases Americans use in different situations.

Some warnings are urgent³ and immediate⁴. Others are a form of direct or indirect⁵ advice — often about what not to do.

Immediate danger

Let us talk first about warnings of immediate danger.

When warning someone of danger, you can say, "Watch out!" just like the man said to me on the street. You can also say, "Look out!" or "Be careful!"

For example, it could be that a moving vehicle or large animal is near. Or you might want to tell someone quickly that they will fall or crash into something or someone. Or you see a heavy object is going to drop or hit someone.

Listen to these warnings:

Look out for that tree!

Watch out! There's a car coming.

Be careful! The floor is wet.

Americans often say, "Careful!" instead of "Be Careful!" Short, quick warnings of danger can be very effective.

Note also that we sometimes use "Careful" or "Be careful" in situations that are not urgent. For instance⁶, if someone touches a valuable item and you want them to do it carefully, you can say, "Please be careful." Or, if someone you know plans to walk around alone at night, you can tell them to be careful.

Indirect warnings

Another kind of warning is an indirect warning, sometimes called a weak warning. These are just like giving advice — yet they are advice about what not to do. You probably would only give such warnings to people you know.

Indirect: I wouldn't if I were you

One of the most common ways we advise someone against doing something is with the phrase, "I wouldn't...if I were you."

Listen to an example:

I wouldn't eat that if I were you. It's been sitting in the refrigerator for two weeks.

Some Americans leave out the if-clause⁷ "if I were you." Here is what that sounds like:

I wouldn't eat that. It's been sitting in the refrigerator for two weeks.

I will say more about using if-clauses in warnings shortly.

Indirect: I don't think you should

Another phrase we use in advising about what not to do is "I don't think you should." Here is an example:

I don't think you should take off your mask. You might spread or catch the virus.

Again, keep in mind that a phrase like "I don't think you should" is something we would not use on strangers.

Direct warnings

Now, let's talk about direct warnings, also known as strong warnings.

Direct: if-clauses

One kind of direct warning tells someone that something bad will happen if he or she does or doesn't do something. For these, we usually use a conditional⁸ clause, also called an if-clause, which expresses a condition.

Listen to some examples:

If you go hiking alone, you will get lost.

I am going to take your electronics⁹ away if you don't finish your schoolwork.

In both examples, the if-clause appears on one side of the sentence. The result appears on the other side.

Direct: don't

Other strong warnings involve direct commands about not doing something. These often begin with the word "Don't." Take a listen:

Don't check your phone when crossing the street.

I'll be back in an hour. Don't answer the door for anyone.

Notice that the subject is missing¹⁰ from the start of both commands. You may remember that, in English, the command form leaves out the subject.

Keep in mind that some of these commands can be considered friendly advice, such as when we say "Don't forget..." like this:

Don't forget to bring water. You got thirsty the last time.

Explicit¹¹ warnings

Another kind of warning is an explicit warning. We give these to prepare someone for an unpleasant experience.

In explicit warnings, Americans usually use the word "warning," saying things like, "I'm warning you" or "I must warn you." Depending on the situation, these can be friendly — or they can be threats.

Here is a friendly explicit warning:

OK, we can do it that way. But just a word of warning: It will be much more difficult.

And, finally, an example of an unfriendly threat:

I'm warning you: If you do that again, there will be problems.

Oh, no! I don't like the sound of that. Hopefully, you never hear that one being used.

Well, that is our program for this week. But just one last warning: If you don't try the grammar exercise, you will miss a chance to practice your English.

I'm Alice Bryant.

Practice Giving Warnings

Now, you try it! Give a warning for each of these situations. 

1-At the zoo, you notice your niece is standing¹² close to a fence. A large animal is walking quickly toward¹³ her. What do you say?

2-Your family wants to go to a famous restaurant. You are willing to go but want to tell them that the food is very expensive. What do you say?

3-At the library, you don't know that a chair is broken as you begin to sit on it. What should someone say to you?

4-A friend tells you he/she is going to take a flight. But you don't think that is a good idea because of coronavirus. What do you say?

5-There is broken glass on a supermarket floor. A stranger does not see the glass and is going to step on it. What do you say?

6-You are driving to your friend's house as a heavy rainstorm begins. You are on the phone with this friend. What should he/she tell you?

Words in This Story

distracting - adj. causing a person to stop paying attention to something and to pay attention to something else instead

item - n. An individual thing

refrigerator - n. a device¹⁴ or room that is used to keep food and drinks cold

mask - n. a covering used to protect your face or cover your mouth

clause - n. a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb

hiking - n. The act of walking a long distance especially for pleasure or exercise

thirsty - adj. having an uncomfortable feeling because you need something to drink

practice - v. To do something again and again in order to get better at it

fence - n. a structure built outdoors that separates two areas or prevents people or animals from entering or leaving

expensive - adj. costing a lot of money

1 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

2 distracting   

v.使（人）分心，分散（注意力）( distract的现在分词 )；打扰

参考例句：

• You're distracting me from my work. 你使我不能专心工作。
• Nothing is more distracting than a neurotic boss. 没有什么比神经过敏的老板更恼人的了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 urgent   

a.紧急的，急迫的，紧要的

参考例句：

• He asked to see the manager for something urgent. 他有急事求见经理。
• A part of this urgent task was allotted to us. 这项紧急任务的一部分分给了我们。

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 indirect   

adj.间接的，转弯抹角的，非直接的

参考例句：

• What he said was very indirect.他的话很婉转。
• He gave only an indirect answer.他只作了间接的回答。

6 instance   

n.例，例证，实例

参考例句：

• Can you quote me a recent instance?你能给我举一个最近的例子吗？
• He's a greedy boy,yesterday,for instance,he ate all our biscuits!他是个贪吃的孩子――比如，他昨天把我们的饼干都吃了！

7 clause   

n.（正式文件或法律文件的）条款，从句，分句

参考例句：

• The sentence consists of a main clause and a subordinate clause.这句中有一个主句和一个从句。
• What clause do you require in the contract?你要求在合同中订上什么条款？

8 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。

9 electronics   

n.电子器件，电子学，电子技术

参考例句：

• About 45000 people worked in electronics in Scotland.苏格兰约有4.5万人在电子行业工作。
• He wants to brush up his knowledge of electronics.他想温习他的电子学知识。

10 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

11 explicit   

adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的

参考例句：

• She was quite explicit about why she left.她对自己离去的原因直言不讳。
• He avoids the explicit answer to us.他避免给我们明确的回答。

12 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

13 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

14 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。