ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: "i have been cheated on."

Grammar Geek — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:52:45 GMT

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>
- cheatÂ·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>.

Re: "i have been cheated on."

Believer — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:31:21 GMT

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.

Re: "i have been cheated on."

Prepos — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:40:12 GMT

Thanks both of you!

Re: "i have been cheated on."

CalifJim — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:01:30 GMT

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

Re: "i have been cheated on."

Prepos — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:38:58 GMT

does it matter that whether "cheat" is a transitive or not?

Re: "i have been cheated on."

Grammar Geek — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:25:02 GMT

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.

"i have been cheated on."

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:18:46 GMT

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