Hi guys! Dan for BBC Learning English here.
This time we're looking difference between
'prevent' and 'avoid'.
'Prevent' basically means 'stop'.
If you prevent something, you stop it from happening
- often before it starts.
You can prevent something,
prevent something from happening or
prevent someone
from doing something.
For example:
The arrival of the police prevented crime.
Or:
Losing my passport prevented me from flying.
Or: I prevented her from slapping me! Wow!
Now 'avoid', basically means 'miss'.
If you avoid something, you try to make it miss you.
For example:
I avoided meeting my ex.
Or:
I avoided the slap easily!