object to
Phrasal Verbs & Multi-word Verbs

Meaning

To oppose or disapprove of something formally, especially in legal or official settings.

Primary Function

Expressing formal objection or dissent

Communicative Purpose

To register disagreement with an action, decision, proposal, or condition; often used in courtrooms, official meetings, complaints, or academic settings

Pattern

object to

Core Structure

object to

Função primária

Expressing formal objection or dissent

Propósito comunicativo

To register disagreement with an action, decision, proposal, or condition; often used in courtrooms, official meetings, complaints, or academic settings

Situações de gatilho

During a courtroom hearing when a party disagrees with the ruling, in board meetings challenging a policy change, receiving customer feedback that objects to service quality

Contextos

Formal/legal environments (court hearings), professional/business negotiations and conferences, academic/publishing reviews where precise language is required

Padrão

object to

Estrutura central

object to

Slots de substituição

The plan/project, unfair treatment/behavior, the noise/situation, a proposed change/increase

Colocados típicos

  • strongly
  • formally
  • do you object to?

Substituições comuns

  • oppose
  • take exception to
  • protest (informal)

Erros comuns

Using an infinitive instead of 'to + gerund' (e.g., *object increase), omitting 'to', treating 'object' as a noun rather than verb

Similar / contraste

disagree with (more informal); oppose (direct object form used in some contexts but less formal)

Interferências

English has both the noun meaning 'an object or thing' and the verb meaning 'to express disagreement'. Learners from languages without this prepositional usage may mistakenly use only the noun sense.

Família do chunk

  • objection

Nuance

Carries a more serious, principled tone; often associated with legal or official dissenting statements

Efeito pragmático

Signals seriousness of objection, can affect outcomes in negotiations, contracts, or policy decisions by formally recording dissent

Dica de memória

'Do you object to …?' – cue for remembering that 'object' is used followed immediately by 'to + gerund/verb phrase'

Nota

The object of the verb 'object to' is always a noun, gerund, or noun clause.

Upgrade path

object strenuously to

Frequência: MediumFormulaicidade: FixedTipo de construção: Prepositional verb phrasePrioridade de aquisição: UnknownPrioridade de output: BothTag de espaçamento: Short-term

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