- Do you ever wonder if you’re using “inform” with the right words?
- Are you unsure whether to say “inform *about*” or “inform *of*”?
- Do you want to sound more natural and confident when sharing important news or facts?
Welcome to this essential guide on collocations with INFORM! Mastering collocations isn’t just about knowing individual words; it’s about understanding how words naturally pair together in English. This knowledge is crucial for moving beyond basic English, enhancing your fluency, and making your communication sound genuinely native. By learning common collocations with “inform,” you’ll avoid awkward phrasing, communicate more effectively, and boost your confidence in both spoken and written English. Let’s dive in!
Common Collocations with INFORM as a Verb
The verb “inform” means to give someone facts or information. It often implies a more formal or official context than simply “to tell.” In 2024, its usage remains strong, particularly in professional and official communications. Let’s explore its most common and useful pairings.
Reporting and Notifying
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Inform someone of something: This is a very common and often formal collocation, emphasizing the specific fact or detail being communicated. It’s widely used in both US and UK English.
Example: We must inform the client of the delay as soon as possible.
Example: The police informed her of her rights before questioning.
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Inform someone about something: Similar to “of something,” but often used for a broader topic or situation rather than specific facts. It’s slightly less formal than “of” and equally common in modern usage.
Example: Please inform me about your progress on the project.
Example: The committee will inform the public about their decision next week.
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Inform the police/authorities: To officially report an incident or crime to the relevant body. This is a crucial phrase for legal and public safety contexts.
Example: If you witness a crime, you should always inform the police immediately.
Example: The company decided to inform the authorities about the data breach.
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Inform a person/team/department: To communicate information directly to a specific individual or group within an organization.
Example: We need to inform the marketing team about the new product launch.
Example: The manager will inform all staff about the upcoming changes.
Keeping Up-to-Date
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Keep someone informed: To regularly provide updates or information so someone remains aware of the situation. This implies ongoing communication.
Example: Please keep me informed of any developments during my absence.
Example: It’s crucial to keep stakeholders informed throughout the project lifecycle.
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Stay informed / Be well-informed: To make an effort to know about current events, topics, or developments; to possess a good level of knowledge. These are vital for civic engagement and personal development.
Example: In today’s fast-changing world, it’s essential to stay informed.
Example: A good leader needs to be well-informed about global issues.
Influencing and Guiding
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Inform a decision/policy/strategy: This means to provide facts, knowledge, or influence that helps shape a decision, policy, or strategy. This is a more abstract and formal use of “inform,” common in business and academic contexts.
Example: Recent market research will inform our marketing strategy for the next quarter.
Example: The expert panel’s findings helped to inform the government’s new policy on education.
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Inform an opinion/perspective: To provide facts or experiences that shape someone’s viewpoint.
Example: His travels abroad have greatly informed his perspective on cultural differences.
Example: Diverse viewpoints should always inform our opinions on complex social issues.
Manner and Degree
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Fully inform: To give complete and comprehensive information, leaving no details out.
Example: We will fully inform all participants about the risks involved.
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Officially inform: To communicate information through formal channels or in an official capacity, often with legal or bureaucratic implications.
Example: The embassy will officially inform the family of the situation.
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Promptly inform: To communicate information quickly, without delay, emphasizing speed and efficiency.
Example: Please promptly inform us if your contact details change.
Master Summary Table: Key Inform Collocations
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| inform someone of something | Verb + Noun + Preposition + Noun | To notify someone of a specific fact or detail (formal) |
| inform someone about something | Verb + Noun + Preposition + Noun | To notify someone about a general topic or situation |
| inform the police/authorities | Verb + Noun | To report an incident to official bodies |
| keep someone informed | Verb + Noun + Adjective | To provide regular updates to someone |
| stay informed / be well-informed | Verb + Adjective / Verb + Adverb + Adjective | To remain knowledgeable about current events |
| inform a decision/policy | Verb + Noun | To provide input that shapes a decision or policy |
| fully/officially/promptly inform | Adverb + Verb | To inform completely, formally, or quickly |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common pitfalls to make your English sound more natural and fluent!
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I want to inform you with the news. | I want to inform you of the news. |
| She informed to me the schedule change. | She informed me of the schedule change. |
| We need to inform a lot of informations. | We need to provide a lot of information. (Remember, “information” is an uncountable noun.) |
| He always tries to keep himself inform. | He always tries to keep himself informed. / He always tries to stay informed. |
| The data informs on the strategy. | The data informs the strategy. (No preposition “on” is needed for this meaning.) |
| I informed the problem. | I reported the problem. (You inform a person/entity, not directly an object/situation.) |
The project manager called an urgent meeting. “Good morning, team,” she began, “I need to inform you of a critical change to our timeline. The client has requested an earlier delivery date, so we’ll have to adjust our plan. We’ll keep you fully informed as we re-strategize. It’s vital that we all stay informed and adapt quickly. We’ll hold daily stand-ups to ensure everyone is up to date. This new deadline will definitely inform our decision regarding resource allocation, so please be ready for some shifts.” She also mentioned, “I’ve already informed the stakeholders about the potential adjustments, and they are awaiting our updated proposal.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Inform Collocations
What is the difference between “inform someone of something” and “inform someone about something”?
Both are correct and widely used, but they carry slightly different nuances. “Inform someone of something” is generally more formal and specific, used to convey a particular fact, detail, or event (e.g., “inform them of their rights,” “inform them of the cancellation”). “Inform someone about something” is often used for a broader topic, a situation, or a series of events, and can be slightly less formal (e.g., “inform them about the ongoing negotiations,” “inform them about the company’s policy changes”). In many cases, they are interchangeable, but “of” often points to a single, concrete piece of information.
Can “inform” be used without a direct object?
No, the verb “inform” is a transitive verb, meaning it almost always requires a direct object, which is the person or entity being informed. For example, you must “inform someone” or “inform the department.” You cannot simply say “I will inform.” If the recipient is implicit or omitted, it usually means the sentence is incomplete, or a different verb like “report” or “notify” (which can sometimes be intransitive) might be more appropriate.
What is the role of “informed” as an adjective?
While this article focuses on the verb “inform,” its past participle “informed” is frequently used as an adjective. It describes someone who has a lot of knowledge about a particular subject or a decision that is based on facts and understanding. Common collocations include “an informed decision,” “an informed opinion,” “a well-informed person.” These uses are closely related to the verb’s meaning of providing knowledge and are essential for sounding proficient in English.
Is “inform against” or “inform on” someone still common?
Yes, these collocations are still used, but they carry a very specific, often negative, connotation. “Inform against someone” or “inform on someone” means to give information to the authorities (often the police) about another person’s illegal activities, often implying betrayal or acting as an informant. For example, “He informed on his accomplices to get a lighter sentence.” They are not used in everyday reporting of general information and should be used with caution due to their specific context.
How does “inform” relate to “notify”? Are they interchangeable?
While “inform” and “notify” are synonyms, they are not always perfectly interchangeable. “Notify” often implies a more immediate, official, and sometimes legally mandated communication, focusing on making someone aware of a fact quickly (e.g., “notify the next of kin,” “notify the bank of a change”). “Inform” is broader; it can be formal or informal, specific or general, and often suggests providing more comprehensive details or knowledge beyond just a brief alert. In many formal contexts, they can be used similarly (e.g., “inform/notify the staff of the change”), but “notify” tends to be quicker and more focused on the bare fact of communication, whereas “inform” often suggests imparting a deeper understanding.
Can I say “I informed him that…”?
Yes, absolutely! This is a perfectly natural and common way to use “inform” to convey a fact or piece of news, especially in more formal contexts. The structure is “inform + object + that-clause”. For example, “I informed him that the meeting was postponed.” This directly tells what information was conveyed, making it a very efficient and clear construction.
As someone who writes a lot of official memos and reports, this is incredibly practical. 'Inform someone of something' is definitely the go-to for precise communication in my field. This article reinforces why.
We're delighted to hear it's practical for your professional needs, Lena! Your experience perfectly illustrates why this collocation is so vital in official communications. Precision and clarity are paramount, and 'inform someone of something' conveys exactly that. Thank you for sharing your valuable perspective!
Short and sweet, but packed with information. Thank you!
When using 'inform,' is it more common to use it in the active or passive voice? For example, 'We informed the client of the update' vs. 'The client was informed of the update.'
Excellent observation, Fatima! Both active and passive voices are very common with 'inform,' and the choice often depends on what you want to emphasize. *Active voice* ('We informed the client...') emphasizes *who* did the informing. *Passive voice* ('The client was informed...') emphasizes *that* the information was received, often when the source of the information is less important or already known. In formal and official contexts, the passive voice can sometimes be preferred to maintain objectivity. Both are perfectly valid collocations!
Translateen.com consistently delivers such valuable content. This article is another gem! Keep up the great work. It's helping me bridge the gap between intermediate and advanced English.
Could you give another example of 'inform of' in a more everyday, non-business context? Like, 'I need to inform my friend of the party change,' or is that too formal?
That's a good question, Anya! While 'inform of' *can* be used in slightly less formal contexts, it still retains a degree of formality. For your example, 'I need to inform my friend of the party change,' is grammatically correct but might sound a little formal for a casual chat. You could more commonly say, 'I need to tell my friend about the party change,' or 'I need to let my friend know about the party change.' However, if it's an important, specific detail (e.g., 'I informed her of the exact time and location'), 'inform of' works well even with friends, implying a factual update.
So true that mastering collocations is key to sounding native. Individual words are easy, but how they fit together is the real challenge. Thanks for highlighting this for 'inform.'
This is very clear! How can I practice these collocations effectively? Should I make flashcards, or try to use them in sentences? Any tips?
Excellent question, Chloe! Both flashcards and creating your own sentences are fantastic ways to practice. We also recommend: 1. **Reading Actively:** Pay attention to how 'inform' is used in news articles, formal reports, or official communications. 2. **Listening Actively:** Notice its usage in professional settings on TV shows, podcasts, or lectures. 3. **Sentence Journaling:** Keep a small notebook where you write down new collocations and example sentences, trying to use them in contexts relevant to your life. 4. **Speaking Practice:** Try to consciously incorporate them into your conversations or presentations. The more you expose yourself to and actively use them, the more natural they will become!
English prepositions are my nightmare! But this explanation of 'inform of' makes a lot of sense. I need to print this out and stick it to my wall! Thanks for making it so clear.
We completely understand, Omar! Prepositions can indeed be tricky for many learners, but articles like this are designed to demystify them. We're delighted to hear it's making sense for you. Keep up the fantastic effort; consistent practice is the key to conquering those 'nightmare' prepositions!
I'm from Japan, and we often translate very directly. Understanding these collocations helps so much. Is there any difference in usage between US and UK English for 'inform of' or 'inform about'? The article mentioned it's widely used in both, but I'm curious if there are subtle preferences.
In legal and business English, 'inform of' is absolutely paramount. It implies a formal duty to communicate a specific fact. This article articulates that perfectly. It's not just about grammar; it's about implied meaning and context.
You've hit on a very important point, Isabella! The formality and implied duty associated with 'inform of' in legal and business contexts really highlight why mastering these collocations is so crucial. It's precisely these nuances that elevate communication from merely understandable to truly professional and precise. Thank you for sharing your valuable insight!