Ban Someone From Doing vs. Ban Someone To Do
Oxford documents the person-action pattern as be banned + from + -ing and separately documents direct-object uses of ban. The cited evidence does not support person + to-infinitive as the equivalent prohibition construction.
Use “ban someone from doing something,” often passively, for the documented person-action construction; do not use “ban someone to do” as the equivalent.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning | Pattern | Use |
|---|---|---|
| prohibit a person from an action | ban + person + from + -ing | documented person-action construction |
| passive prohibition | be banned from + -ing | common documented form |
| prohibit a thing/activity | ban + noun | direct-object use |
Quick tests
Prohibition test
Are you stating that a person is prohibited from performing the action?
If yes: Use “ban + person + from + -ing” or its passive equivalent.
If no: If a thing/activity itself is prohibited, a direct noun object may be the better construction.
Caveat: The reviewed evidence does not support “ban + person + to-infinitive” as the equivalent person-action complement.
Examples
The rules ban visitors from entering after midnight.
The person is prohibited from the action.
Visitors are banned from entering after midnight.
The passive pattern is directly aligned with the documented construction.
The rules ban visitors to enter after midnight.
Better: The rules ban visitors from entering after midnight.
Use “from + -ing” for the person-action prohibition.
Further guidance
Boundary
Ban can directly take a thing as object, such as banning a substance or activity; distinguish that transitive pattern from banning a person from an action.
Construction
Oxford records the person pattern as “be banned from doing something,” especially for an official prohibition.
Decision
Use “ban someone from doing something,” often passively, for the documented person-action construction; do not use “ban someone to do” as the equivalent.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- ban — Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Oxford University Press · Oxford learner-dictionary construction evidence for be banned from doing something