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How to use "cry after" in passive form?

English Language & Usage Asked by 1123581321 on June 12, 2021

I intend to say "They would cry after me (my death).".

Here is the sentence:

"I didn’t know how to live my life, yet I would be cried after so damn good."

Is this correct? If not, could you please give me a hand on this?

One Answer

Try thinking about it this way.

It is obvious what you mean. And the passive form is properly formed. I could suggest that the problem is that the 'cry' that is used in 'cry after' is intransitive, and that is why "I would be cried after" sounds odd.

But there are parallel formations that are apparently similar but also correct. 'Look' in 'look after' is intransitive, but we certainly talk about people and cars being 'well looked after' (or 'cared for').

I have checked the Cambridge online dictionary and the Merriam Webster Online dictionar, and neither includes 'cry after' and I myself do not recognise it. If you use it, therefore you are using an expression not widely used, if at all. So it will sound odd to people reading it. If you are a brilliant writer and include it in a poem or story or pop song that catches on, perhaps it will catch on. But till that happens, it will sound odd.

Answered by Tuffy on June 12, 2021

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