Describing a possible threat

The idea

Use pose a threat to before the person or thing at risk. The verb changes with tense and subject.

Examples

• The leak poses a threat to the river.
• The storm posed a serious threat to the village.
• These weeds pose a threat to local plants.
• A weak password can pose a threat to your account.
• The falling rocks posed an immediate threat to hikers.
• Noise may pose a threat to the birds’ nesting sites.

Watch out

Avoid pose a threat for when naming what is endangered; use to.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the missing word. Loose wires can ___ a threat to visitors. (pose / poses)

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   pose

   pose follows the modal verb in its base form.

2. Choose the missing word. The fire ___ a threat to the archive yesterday. (posed / poses)

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   posed

   posed places the danger in the past.

3. Choose the missing word. The outage poses a threat ___ the system. (to / at)

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   to

   to introduces the endangered system.

Use it today

Describe a possible danger to a public space.