A2 verb #390 最常用 3分钟阅读

avoid

To keep away from someone or something.

Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use avoid when you stay away from something. If you see a big dog and you are scared, you walk the other way. You avoid the dog. It is a simple way to say 'I do not want to be near that.' You can avoid people, places, or bad things like accidents.

At this level, you can use avoid to talk about habits. For example, 'I avoid eating junk food' or 'I avoid the rain.' It is helpful for talking about things you do not like or things that are not good for you. Remember to use the -ing form after the word!

You use avoid to describe taking action to prevent problems. 'We took a different road to avoid the traffic.' It is also used in social situations, like 'He tried to avoid the question' during a conversation. It shows you are in control of your choices and want to stay away from negative situations.

At this stage, you will notice avoid used in more abstract ways. We talk about avoiding conflict, avoiding responsibility, or avoiding a mistake. It is a key word for expressing diplomacy or caution. You might say, 'To avoid any misunderstanding, let's clarify the rules.' It shows a higher level of nuance in your English.

In advanced English, avoid is used to describe strategic maneuvers or complex social interactions. You might 'avoid the limelight' or 'avoid a confrontation.' It is often used in formal reports or academic writing to describe how to mitigate risks. The word carries a sense of intentionality and foresight, showing that the subject is actively managing their environment or circumstances to achieve a specific, usually positive, outcome.

At the mastery level, avoid carries weight in literary and philosophical contexts. It can describe an existential withdrawal or a deliberate omission. Writers use it to show a character's internal struggle or their desire to escape reality. It is not just about physical distance; it is about the psychological choice to ignore, bypass, or prevent. Understanding the subtle difference between 'avoiding' a duty versus 'evading' a law is a hallmark of C2 proficiency.

30秒词汇

  • Avoid means to stay away from something.
  • Always use the -ing form after it (e.g., avoid going).
  • It can be used for physical things or abstract problems.
  • It is a neutral, very common word.

When you avoid something, you are making a conscious decision to steer clear of it. Think of it as putting a barrier between yourself and a situation you find undesirable.

You might avoid a person who makes you uncomfortable, or you might avoid a busy street to skip the traffic. It is all about prevention and distance.

In a broader sense, we use this word when we take action to stop a mistake or a disaster. If you prepare for a test, you are trying to avoid failure. It is a very useful word for describing how we manage our daily lives and choices.

The word avoid has a fascinating history that traces back to the 13th century. It comes from the Old French word esvuidier, which literally meant to empty out or to withdraw.

Think about the prefix 'es-' (meaning out) and 'vuidier' (meaning empty). So, originally, to avoid was to 'empty' a space or to clear it out. Over time, the meaning shifted from the physical act of clearing a room to the metaphorical act of keeping yourself away from something.

It is related to the word 'void,' which also shares that sense of emptiness. It is a classic example of how language evolves from physical actions to more abstract, psychological concepts in our everyday speech.

You will hear avoid used in almost every context, from casual chats to formal business meetings. It is a versatile verb that pairs well with nouns and gerunds (the -ing form of verbs).

Commonly, we say 'avoid doing something,' like 'I avoid eating sugar.' It is considered a neutral register, meaning it is perfectly acceptable in both professional emails and talking with your best friend.

When you want to sound more formal, you might use synonyms like 'refrain from' or 'evade.' However, 'avoid' is almost always the most natural choice for clear, direct communication.

While 'avoid' is a direct verb, it appears in many common expressions.

  • Avoid like the plague: To stay far away from something because you dislike it intensely.
  • Avoid the issue: To intentionally not talk about a difficult problem.
  • Avoid at all costs: To make sure something never happens because it is very bad.
  • Avoid capture: To stay free and not be caught by someone.
  • Avoid detection: To remain hidden or unnoticed.

The verb avoid is regular, so its past tense and past participle are simply avoided. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually needs an object, like 'I avoid crowds.'

Pronunciation-wise, it is /əˈvɔɪd/. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with words like 'void,' 'devoid,' and 'annoyed.' Pay attention to the 'oi' sound, which is a diphthong that requires a smooth transition from the 'o' to the 'i' sound.

A common mistake is using a preposition after avoid, such as 'avoid to go.' Remember: always use the -ing form (gerund) after avoid, not the infinitive!

Fun Fact

It shares a root with 'void', meaning empty space.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /əˈvɔɪd/

Clear 'a' sound followed by 'void'.

US /əˈvɔɪd/

Similar to UK, slightly more rounded 'o'.

Common Errors

  • Pronouncing it like 'a-void' with a hard 'a'.
  • Adding a 'd' at the end of the first syllable.
  • Weakening the final 'd' sound too much.

Rhymes With

void devoid annoyed destroyed employed

Difficulty Rating

阅读 1/5

Very easy to read.

Writing 2/5

Requires attention to the -ing rule.

Speaking 1/5

Very common word.

听力 1/5

Clear pronunciation.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

stay away stop

Learn Next

prevent evade mitigate

高级

avoidance unavoidable

Grammar to Know

Gerunds

Avoid doing.

Transitive Verbs

Avoid + object.

Imperative

Avoid the mess!

Examples by Level

1

I avoid the big dog.

I stay away from the dog.

Verb + noun.

2

Please avoid the mud.

Do not step in the mud.

Imperative.

3

I avoid the sun.

I stay in the shade.

Simple present.

4

Avoid the broken glass.

Stay away from the sharp pieces.

Imperative.

5

He avoids the mean boy.

He stays away from him.

Third person singular.

6

We avoid the busy road.

We choose a quiet street.

Subject + verb.

7

She avoids the rain.

She stays inside.

Third person singular.

8

I avoid the cold water.

I do not go in the pool.

Simple present.

1

I try to avoid eating sweets.

2

We took a train to avoid the traffic.

3

She avoids talking to him.

4

You should avoid that area at night.

5

They avoid making mistakes.

6

I avoid loud music.

7

Can we avoid the meeting today?

8

He avoids the park when it is dark.

1

She did her best to avoid a conflict.

2

We need to avoid any further delays.

3

He managed to avoid the question.

4

I try to avoid working on weekends.

5

They took a shortcut to avoid the crowd.

6

Please avoid using your phone in the library.

7

We must avoid repeating the same errors.

8

She avoided his gaze during the talk.

1

He went to great lengths to avoid detection.

2

We should avoid jumping to conclusions.

3

The company is trying to avoid bankruptcy.

4

She avoided the issue by changing the subject.

5

It is impossible to avoid all risks in life.

6

They avoided a major disaster by acting fast.

7

I try to avoid the limelight.

8

He avoided the trap set by his rivals.

1

The diplomat skillfully avoided the sensitive topic.

2

We must avoid any appearance of bias.

3

He avoided the pitfalls of his predecessor.

4

They sought to avoid a direct confrontation.

5

The author avoids flowery language in this book.

6

She avoided the scrutiny of the press.

7

We should avoid overcomplicating the process.

8

He avoided the temptation to quit.

1

The protagonist tries to avoid the weight of his past.

2

They avoided the inevitable collapse of the empire.

3

He avoided the question with a wry smile.

4

The policy was designed to avoid systemic failure.

5

She avoids the trappings of modern fame.

6

They avoided the scrutiny of the board.

7

He avoided the path of least resistance.

8

The narrative avoids easy answers.

近义词

shun evade dodge escape bypass sidestep

常见搭配

avoid contact
avoid the issue
avoid a mistake
avoid delay
avoid conflict
avoid detection
avoid answering
avoid using
avoid going
avoid altogether

Idioms & Expressions

"avoid like the plague"

to stay very far away from something

I avoid that café like the plague.

casual

"avoid the issue"

to ignore a problem

Stop avoiding the issue and talk to me.

neutral

"avoid at all costs"

to do everything to prevent something

We must avoid failure at all costs.

formal

"avoid the limelight"

to stay out of the public eye

The actor prefers to avoid the limelight.

neutral

"avoid the beaten track"

to go to places where few people go

We like to avoid the beaten track when traveling.

neutral

Easily Confused

avoid vs evade

both mean to get away

evade implies trickery or hiding

He avoided the question vs He evaded the police.

avoid vs prevent

both involve stopping something

prevent is about stopping an event from starting

I avoid the rain vs I prevent the rain (impossible).

avoid vs escape

both mean getting away

escape means you were already caught or in it

I avoided the trap vs I escaped the trap.

avoid vs shun

both mean staying away

shun is social and emotional

I avoid the park vs I shun my neighbors.

Sentence Patterns

A2

Subject + avoid + -ing

I avoid eating meat.

A1

Subject + avoid + noun

We avoid the traffic.

B1

To + avoid + noun, + clause

To avoid a fine, pay on time.

B1

Subject + try to + avoid + -ing

He tries to avoid arguing.

A2

Subject + should + avoid + -ing

You should avoid smoking.

词族

Nouns

avoidance the act of keeping away from something

Verbs

avoid to stay away

Adjectives

avoidable something that can be prevented

相关

void etymological root

How to Use It

frequency

9

Formality Scale

evade (formal) avoid (neutral) dodge (casual) skip (slang)

常见错误

avoid to do → avoid doing
Avoid is always followed by a gerund (-ing).
avoid from → avoid
Avoid does not take the preposition 'from'.
avoided to go → avoided going
The rule remains the same in the past tense.
avoiding of → avoiding
Do not add 'of' after avoid.
avoided that I go → avoided going
Use a gerund instead of a clause.

Tips

💡

The -ing Rule

Always follow 'avoid' with an -ing word.

💡

Use it in your day

Write down 3 things you avoid every day.

💡

The 'oi' sound

Make sure your mouth moves from 'o' to 'i'.

💡

Old French roots

It comes from 'emptying' a space.

💡

Professional emails

Use 'avoid' to suggest solutions, e.g., 'To avoid confusion...'

💡

Don't use 'from'

Never say 'avoid from'.

🌍

Politeness

Use 'avoid' to be polite about not doing something.

💡

Visualizing

Picture a 'void' (empty space) between you and the thing.

💡

Synonym swap

Try replacing 'avoid' with 'dodge' in casual speech.

💡

Transitive check

Always check if you have an object after the verb.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

A-VOID: A void is an empty space. To avoid is to make sure you stay in the empty space away from the problem.

Visual Association

A person stepping over a crack in the sidewalk.

Word Web

prevent escape dodge refrain

挑战

Try to say 'I avoid...' and list three things you don't like.

词源

Old French

Original meaning: To empty out

文化背景

None.

Used frequently in health and safety, legal, and social contexts.

'Avoid the Noid' (old pizza commercial) Various self-help books on avoiding stress

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Health

  • avoid sugar
  • avoid stress
  • avoid contact

Travel

  • avoid traffic
  • avoid the crowds
  • avoid peak hours

Work

  • avoid delays
  • avoid mistakes
  • avoid conflict

Social

  • avoid the issue
  • avoid answering
  • avoid the limelight

Conversation Starters

"What is one thing you try to avoid every day?"

"Do you think it is better to avoid conflict or face it?"

"How do you avoid getting sick during the winter?"

"Have you ever tried to avoid a difficult question?"

"What is the best way to avoid traffic in your city?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a time you successfully avoided a bad situation.

Is there anything you avoid because you are afraid of it?

Why do people sometimes avoid the truth?

Describe a strategy you use to avoid making mistakes.

常见问题

8 个问题

No, always use 'avoid + -ing'.

Yes, it is: avoid, avoided, avoided.

Avoidance.

They are similar, but prevent is usually about stopping an event, while avoid is about your personal movement or choice.

It is neutral and used everywhere.

Yes, it means not interacting with them.

Confront or face.

uh-VOYD.

自我测试

fill blank A1

I ___ the big dog.

正确！ 不太对。 正确答案： avoid

Avoid means to stay away.

multiple choice A2

Which is correct?

正确！ 不太对。 正确答案： I avoid going.

Always use -ing after avoid.

true false B1

Can you use 'avoid' to mean 'to go towards'?

正确！ 不太对。 正确答案： 错误

Avoid means to stay away from.

match pairs B1

Word

意思

All matched!

These are opposites.

sentence order B2

点击下方的词语来组成句子
正确！ 不太对。 正确答案：

He tried to avoid conflict.

得分： /5

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