Should You Intervene in a Heated Argument?
This video explores the dilemma of whether to intervene or mind your own business when witnessing a heated argument on the street. It provides an in-depth look at the meaning, usage, and importance of the word ‘intervene’ in the English language.
Imagine you’re walking down the street and you see two people in a heated argument. The situation is escalating quickly.
Should you step in or mind your own business? This dilemma perfectly illustrates our word for today: intervene.
Word type: Intervene is a verb. It’s pronounced in-ter-VEEN.
Meaning: To intervene means to come between two things, typically to prevent or alter a result or course of events.
It can also mean to occur or appear between two events or points in time.
Word history: The word intervene comes from the Latin intervenire, which combines inter meaning between and venire meaning to come.
It entered the English language in the sixteenth century.
Synonyms: Some synonyms for intervene include intercede, mediate, interfere, interpose, and step in.
Antonyms: Antonyms for intervene include abstain, avoid, ignore, and withdraw.
Examples use in sentences:
The teacher had to intervene when the classroom discussion became too heated. The government decided to intervene in the failing economy by introducing new policies.
If the rain doesn’t intervene, we should have perfect weather for the outdoor concert. Common errors in use:
One common mistake is confusing intervene with interfere. While both involve getting involved in a situation, intervene often has a more positive connotation of helping or improving a situation, while interfere can imply unwanted or unhelpful involvement.
Another error is using intervene with the wrong preposition. We typically say intervene in a situation or intervene between two parties, not intervene with or intervene to.
Intervene is a powerful word that describes taking action in various situations. Whether it’s stepping into a conflict, influencing an outcome, or describing something that comes between two events, intervene is a versatile and important word to add to your GRE vocabulary.
By understanding its meaning, usage, and related words, you’ll be well-equipped to use intervene correctly in your writing and speech.
