Search from various English teachers...
Who am I
Can “of” be omitted from the phrase “beware of”?
I sometimes hear people saying “beware anyone who says ….” other times “beware of anyone claiming to … ”
Are they actually the same just a matter of whether “of” being omitted or not? I’m confused.
Jun 3, 2023 3:11 PM
Answers · 11
1
Maybe in poetry, but in day-to-day life it would sound rather odd.
June 3, 2023
1
Yes, "of" can be omitted. No, it doesn't change the meaning. Omitting it sounds a little old-fashioned and literary:
The first thing that popped into my head was a line from William Shakespeare's famous play, "Macbeth:"
"Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff;
Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough."
June 4, 2023
1
Yes, you can say that. "Of" is understood even if you don't say it.
Look up the famous nonsense poem "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Caroll. It contains these beautiful lines:
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
Some of the words are nonsense words so don't expect to find them in a dictionary.
June 3, 2023
Both official and unofficial notices and guidance usually include ‘of’ - ‘Beware of the dog’ for example, which householders put on their gate, or ‘Beware of ticket touts’ outside entertainment venues.
June 4, 2023
Just to add:
"Beware! Anyone who says they are looking to exchange money are probably trying to scam you."
And
"Beware of anyone who says they are looking to exchange money, they're probably tying to scam you."
Are two different ways of structuring the phrase and what might sound like a simple omission really isn't. The first phrase sounds a lot more emphatic than the second.
June 3, 2023
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Who am I
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English, French
Learning Language
English
Articles You May Also Like

Same Word, Different Meaning: American, British, and South African English
21 likes · 17 Comments

How to Sound Confident in English (Even When You’re Nervous)
16 likes · 12 Comments

Marketing Vocabulary and Phrases for Business English Learners
13 likes · 6 Comments
More articles
