Which preposition does Harm in English go with? All the knowledge about Harm in English

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Harm is commonly known to mean "to hurt someone or damage something". However, in today's article, we will delve into the usage, collocations, idioms of harm and answer the question "Which preposition does Harm in English go with?" as well as the differences between Harm, Injure, and Damage.

I. What is Harm in English?
II. Which preposition does Harm in English go with? Usage and structure of Harm in English
III. Differentiating Harm, Injure, and Damage
IV. Exercise on Harm in English
1. 1. Exercises
2. 2. Answer
V. Master IELTS Skills for a High Band Score

I. What is Harm in English?

Before we find out the answer of the question "Which preposition does Harm in English go with?", let's explore the definition, collocations, idioms, and synonyms of Harm in English below!

1. Definition

In English, Harm is pronounced /hɑːrm/ and functions as both a noun and a verb.

Harm acts as a verb, meaning: to hurt someone or damage something. For example: Thankfully no one was harmed in the accident.
Harm acts as a noun, meaning: physical or other injury or damage. For example: A mistake like that will do his credibility a lot of harm.

2. Collocations with Harm in English

Collocations with Harm in English	Example
Actual harm /ˈæktʃuəl hɑrm/	There is no possibility of actual harm whatsoever.
Considerable harm /kənˈsɪderəbl̩ hɑrm/	Jack's office said that it would not cause considerable harm to the countryside.
Emotional harm /ɪˈmoʊʃənəl hɑrm/	Bullying can cause significant emotional harm to its victims.
Environmental harm /ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentəl hɑrm/	Dumping chemicals into rivers can lead to severe environmental harm, affecting wildlife and ecosystems.
Great harm /ɡreɪt hɑrm/	Ignoring safety regulations can result in great harm to workers and the public alike.

Refer to more collocations with Harm in English on the Cambridge Dictionary here!

3. Idioms with Harm in English

Idioms with Harm in English	Meaning	Example
Do more harm than good	inadvertently make a situation worse rather than better	Trying to fix the leaky faucet without proper tools often does more harm than good.
No harm no foul	used to indicate that a mistake or instance of misconduct should be excused because it has not caused damage	You accidentally bumped into me, but no harm, no foul.
Out of harm's way	in a position that is safe from harm or from which harm cannot be done	The children were moved out of harm's way before the storm hit.
Harm a hair on someone's head	to hurt or injure one in any way	If you harm a hair on her head, you'll answer to me.

4. Synonym with Harm in English

Synonym for Harm in English	Meaning	Example
Injury /ˈɪnʤeri/ (n)	physical harm or damage to someone's body caused by an accident or an attack	The car accident resulted in severe injuries to the passengers.
Hurt /hɜrt/ (v)	cause physical pain or injury to	His harsh words hurt her feelings deeply.
Damage /ˈdæmɪdʒ/ (v)	inflict physical harm on (something) so as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function	The storm caused extensive damage to the property.
Suffering /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/ (n)	the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship	The war-torn country is filled with people who have endured immense suffering.
Trauma /ˈtrɔmə/ (n)	a deeply distressing or disturbing experience	Witnessing the accident left her with emotional trauma that lasts for years.

II. Which preposition does Harm in English go with? Usage and structure of Harm in English

Let's explore the prepositions used with Harm in English, the usage and structure of Harm in English in the table below!

Structure	Example
Subject + to be + harmed + by	Maria was harmed by the harsh comments made by her classmates.
Subject + harm + to	Jack's actions caused harm to the environment.
Subject + to be + harmed + in	Many civilians were harmed in the conflict.

Note:

In English, people often use "Be bad for" instead of "Harm". For example: Chemicals are bad for the environment.
In English, "Give harm" or "Make harm" are NOT USED, but "Do/Cause/Pose harm" is used.
- Missing a meal once in a while won’t make you any harm. (❌)
- Missing a meal once in a while won’t do you any harm. (✅)

➞ From the above structure of Harm in English, we can easily see that Harm goes with the prepositions: by, to, in.

III. Differentiating Harm, Injure, and Damage

Let's learn how to differentiate and use them correctly below!

	Harm	Injure	Damage
Meaning	To hurt someone or damage something. Used for both people and things, with abstract characteristics such as happiness, life, health, and career.	Causing physical injuries (usually due to accidents). Negatively impacting someone's reputation. Often used in the passive form.	Describing negative effects on the integrity, quality, or value of physical assets, but it can also be used in psychological contexts, with abstract characteristics such as reputation, economy, health, and happiness.
Part of speech	Noun Verb	Verb	Noun Verb
Example	John would never frighten anyone or cause them any harm. The government's reputation has already been harmed by a series of scandals.	Robert was badly injured in the crash.	The doctors were worried that he might have suffered brain damage. Many buildings were badly damaged during the war.

IV. Exercise on Harm in English

Let's practice the exercises below to understand more about the prepositions used with Harm in English.

1. Exercises

Exercise 1: Find and correct mistakes in the sentences below

The cat was harm to the dog during their fight.
Pollution makes a serious harm to the environment.
The children were harmed by the car accident last night.
The crops were harmed in the severe drought in the region.
Lack of sleep can give harm to your overall health.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

Smoking can ______ your health over time if you don't quit.
1. Harm
2. Injure
3. Damage
John ______ his ankle while playing soccer and had to sit out the rest of the game.
1. Harmed
2. Injured
3. Damaged
The storm ______ several houses in the neighborhood, causing extensive property loss.
1. Harmed
2. Injured
3. Damaged
Excessive exposure to sunlight can ______ your skin and increase the risk of skin cancer.
1. Harm
2. Injure
3. Damage
Annie slipped on the wet floor and ______ her wrist, requiring a visit to the emergency room.
1. Harmed
2. Injured
3. Damaged

2. Answer

Exercise 1	1. harm to ➞ harmed by	2. makes ➞ does/ causes/ poses	3. by ➞ in	4. in ➞ by	5. give ➞ cause
Exercise 2	1. A	2. B	3. C	4. A	5. B

V. Master IELTS Skills for a High Band Score

PREP hopes that after reading this article, you will have a good grasp of the prepositions used with Harm in English. If you want guaranteed improvement in IELTS, don’t miss these game-changing courses below:

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Chloe

Product Content Admin

Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.