American Phrases for Warning or Advising Someone
2020-07-03
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1The other day, I started crossing a busy street in Washington, D.C., while looking at my phone.
2Suddenly, I heard a man shout, "Watch out!"
3He was telling me about an oncoming car.
4I did not know that the crossing light was red.
5The words "Watch out!" made me quickly return to the sidewalk.
6I learned something that day: Phones can be distracting! And I remembered how useful warnings are.
7To warn someone means to tell the person about possible danger or trouble.
8In English, there are several ways to do this.
9Today on Everyday Grammar, we will talk about warning phrases Americans use in different situations.
10Some warnings are urgent and immediate.
11Others are a form of direct or indirect advice - often about what not to do.
12Let us talk first about warnings of immediate danger.
13When warning someone of danger, you can say, "Watch out!" just like the man said to me on the street.
14You can also say, "Look out!" or "Be careful!"
15For example, it could be that a moving vehicle or large animal is near.
16Or you might want to tell someone quickly that they will fall or crash into something or someone.
17Or you see a heavy object is going to drop or hit someone.
18Listen to these warnings:
19Look out for that tree!
20Watch out! There's a car coming.
21Be careful! The floor is wet.
22Americans often say, "Careful!" instead of "Be Careful!" Short, quick warnings of danger can be very effective.
23Note also that we sometimes use "Careful" or "Be careful" in situations that are not urgent.
24For instance, if someone touches a valuable item and you want them to do it carefully, you can say, "Please be careful."
25Or, if someone you know plans to walk around alone at night, you can tell them to be careful.
26Another kind of warning is an indirect warning, sometimes called a weak warning.
27These are just like giving advice - yet they are advice about what not to do.
28You probably would only give such warnings to people you know.
29One of the most common ways we advise someone against doing something is with the phrase, "I wouldn't...if I were you."
30Listen to an example:
31I wouldn't eat that if I were you.
32It's been sitting in the refrigerator for two weeks.
33Some Americans leave out the if-clause "if I were you."
34Here is what that sounds like:
35I wouldn't eat that.
36It's been sitting in the refrigerator for two weeks.
37I will say more about using if-clauses in warnings shortly.
38Another phrase we use in advising about what not to do is "I don't think you should." Here is an example:
39I don't think you should take off your mask.
40You might spread or catch the virus.
41Again, keep in mind that a phrase like "I don't think you should" is something we would not use on strangers.
42Now, let's talk about direct warnings, also known as strong warnings.
43One kind of direct warning tells someone that something bad will happen if he or she does or doesn't do something.
44For these, we usually use a conditional clause, also called an if-clause, which expresses a condition.
45Listen to some examples:
46If you go hiking alone, you will get lost.
47I am going to take your electronics away if you don't finish your schoolwork.
48In both examples, the if-clause appears on one side of the sentence.
49The result appears on the other side.
50Other strong warnings involve direct commands about not doing something.
51These often begin with the word "Don't." Take a listen:
52Don't check your phone when crossing the street.
53I'll be back in an hour. Don't answer the door for anyone.
54Notice that the subject is missing from the start of both commands.
55You may remember that, in English, the command form leaves out the subject.
56Keep in mind that some of these commands can be considered friendly advice, such as when we say "Don't forget..." like this:
57Don't forget to bring water. You got thirsty the last time.
58Another kind of warning is an explicit warning. We give these to prepare someone for an unpleasant experience.
59In explicit warnings, Americans usually use the word "warning," saying things like, "I'm warning you" or "I must warn you."
60Depending on the situation, these can be friendly - or they can be threats.
61Here is a friendly explicit warning:
62OK, we can do it that way. But just a word of warning: It will be much more difficult.
63And, finally, an example of an unfriendly threat:
64I'm warning you: If you do that again, there will be problems.
65Oh, no! I don't like the sound of that. Hopefully, you never hear that one being used.
66Well, that is our program for this week.
67But just one last warning: If you don't try the grammar exercise, you will miss a chance to practice your English.
68I'm Alice Bryant.
1The 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. 2I learned something that day: Phones can be distracting! And I remembered how useful warnings are. 3To warn someone means to tell the person about possible danger or trouble. In English, there are several ways to do this. 4Today on Everyday Grammar, we will talk about warning phrases Americans use in different situations. 5Some warnings are urgent and immediate. Others are a form of direct or indirect advice - often about what not to do. 6Immediate danger 7Let us talk first about warnings of immediate danger. 8When 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!" 9For 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. 10Listen to these warnings: 11Look out for that tree! 12Watch out! There's a car coming. 13Be careful! The floor is wet. 14Americans often say, "Careful!" instead of "Be Careful!" Short, quick warnings of danger can be very effective. 15Note also that we sometimes use "Careful" or "Be careful" in situations that are not urgent. For instance, 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. 16Indirect warnings 17Another 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. 18Indirect: I wouldn't if I were you 19One of the most common ways we advise someone against doing something is with the phrase, "I wouldn't...if I were you." 20Listen to an example: 21I wouldn't eat that if I were you. It's been sitting in the refrigerator for two weeks. 22Some Americans leave out the if-clause "if I were you." Here is what that sounds like: 23I wouldn't eat that. It's been sitting in the refrigerator for two weeks. 24I will say more about using if-clauses in warnings shortly. 25Indirect: I don't think you should 26Another phrase we use in advising about what not to do is "I don't think you should." Here is an example: 27I don't think you should take off your mask. You might spread or catch the virus. 28Again, keep in mind that a phrase like "I don't think you should" is something we would not use on strangers. 29Direct warnings 30Now, let's talk about direct warnings, also known as strong warnings. 31Direct: if-clauses 32One 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 conditional clause, also called an if-clause, which expresses a condition. 33Listen to some examples: 34If you go hiking alone, you will get lost. 35I am going to take your electronics away if you don't finish your schoolwork. 36In both examples, the if-clause appears on one side of the sentence. The result appears on the other side. 37Direct: don't 38Other strong warnings involve direct commands about not doing something. These often begin with the word "Don't." Take a listen: 39Don't check your phone when crossing the street. 40I'll be back in an hour. Don't answer the door for anyone. 41Notice that the subject is missing from the start of both commands. You may remember that, in English, the command form leaves out the subject. 42Keep in mind that some of these commands can be considered friendly advice, such as when we say "Don't forget..." like this: 43Don't forget to bring water. You got thirsty the last time. 44Explicit warnings 45Another kind of warning is an explicit warning. We give these to prepare someone for an unpleasant experience. 46In 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. 47Here is a friendly explicit warning: 48OK, we can do it that way. But just a word of warning: It will be much more difficult. 49And, finally, an example of an unfriendly threat: 50I'm warning you: If you do that again, there will be problems. 51Oh, no! I don't like the sound of that. Hopefully, you never hear that one being used. 52Well, 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. 53I'm Alice Bryant. 54Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 55________________________________________________________________ 56Now, you try it! Give a warning for each of these situations. 571-At the zoo, you notice your niece is standing close to a fence. A large animal is walking quickly toward her. What do you say? 582-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? 593-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? 604-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? 615-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? 626-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? 63________________________________________________________________ 64Words in This Story 65distracting - adj. causing a person to stop paying attention to something and to pay attention to something else instead 66item - n. An individual thing 67refrigerator - n. a device or room that is used to keep food and drinks cold 68mask - n. a covering used to protect your face or cover your mouth 69clause - n. a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb 70hiking - n. The act of walking a long distance especially for pleasure or exercise 71thirsty - adj. having an uncomfortable feeling because you need something to drink 72practice - v. To do something again and again in order to get better at it 73fence - n. a structure built outdoors that separates two areas or prevents people or animals from entering or leaving 74expensive - adj. costing a lot of money