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"i have been cheated on."

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Anonymous  #416844  Mon, 10 Sep 07 06:18 PM

or should i just say " i have been cheated." ?

  
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Grammar Geek  #416851  Mon, 10 Sep 07 06:25 PM

If someone acted dishonestly and took your money, property, etc. you were cheated. I was cheated, he cheated me.

If your girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife had an affair (had a relationship with someone else), s/he cheated on you. I've never seen someone say "I've been cheated on," but "He cheated on me" is quite common.

  
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Prepos  #416855  Mon, 10 Sep 07 06:38 PM
does it matter that whether "cheat" is a transitive or not?
  
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CalifJim  #416920  Mon, 10 Sep 07 10:01 PM
Capitalize the first word of each sentence!

Does it matter ...?

Yes, it matters.  If you use intransitive cheat, there is no passive form.  Susan cheated. Only a transitive verb can form a passive.  Frank cheated Henry.  Henry was cheated by Frank.

CJ

  
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Prepos  #417185  Tue, 11 Sep 07 04:40 PM
Thanks both of you!
  
Believer  #417481  Wed, 12 Sep 07 09:31 AM

Thank you, CalifJim

Where can I go to find out if a particular verb is intransitive or transitive. Like "cheat," can many verbs be both transitive and intransitive?  I don't think a dictionary in paperback would must likely to have that information.

  
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Grammar Geek  #417577  Wed, 12 Sep 07 02:52 PM

Most dictionaries should tell you whether it's transitive or intransitive, but the good online ones surely do.

Here is the entire section from the online www.m-w.com first entry for cheat:

Main Entry: 1cheat
Pronunciation: 'chEt
Function: verb
Etymology: 2cheat
transitive verb
1 : to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud
2 : to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice
3 : to elude or thwart by or as if by outwitting <cheat death>
intransitive verb
1 a : to practice fraud or trickery b : to violate rules dishonestly <cheat at cards> <cheating on a test>
2 : to be sexually unfaithful -- usually used with on <was cheating on his wife>
3 : to position oneself defensively near a particular area in anticipation of a play in that area <the shortstop was cheating toward second base>
- cheat·er noun
synonyms CHEAT, COZEN, DEFRAUD, SWINDLE mean to get something by dishonesty or deception. CHEAT suggests using trickery that escapes observation <cheated me out of a dollar>. COZEN implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose <always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars>. DEFRAUD stresses depriving one of his or her rights and usually connotes deliberate perversion of the truth <defrauded of her inheritance by an unscrupulous lawyer>. SWINDLE implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence <swindled of their savings by con artists>.

  
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