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Thread: 'suffer' Vs 'suffer from'

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    Carmen216 is offline Newbie
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    Smile 'suffer' Vs 'suffer from'

    what are the difference on usages between 'suffer' and 'suffer from'?

    According to the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, ‘suffer’ means to experience physical or mental pain.

    (i)Mary’s pelvis suffered some damage from my first baby 1 year ago.
    (ii)She's been suffering from cancer for two years.

    aren't that both (i) and (ii) talking about physical pain? then why do (i) use 'suffered' and (ii) use 'suffering from'?

    i am so confused.

    thanks for answering.



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    Default Re: 'suffer' Vs 'suffer from'

    Quote Originally Posted by Carmen216 View Post
    what are the difference on usages between 'suffer' and 'suffer from'?

    According to the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, ‘suffer’ means to experience physical or mental pain.

    (i)Mary’s pelvis suffered some damage from my first baby 1 year ago.
    (ii)She's been suffering from cancer for two years.

    aren't that both (i) and (ii) talking about physical pain? then why do (i) use 'suffered' and (ii) use 'suffering from'?

    i am so confused.

    thanks for answering.
    There are subtle differences, sometimes invisible for many.
    suffer from is continous (over some period of time) and means suffer because of something
    suffer something means undergo in reference to certain moments in time, =suffer it

    I suffer from a flu.
    I suffer a heart attack.

    Can you see this slight difference?


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    Carmen216 is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: 'suffer' Vs 'suffer from'

    is that mean 'suffer' is for 'instant matter'?
    but the duration of physical or mental pain is longer for 'suffer from'?

    thanks!

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    banderas's Avatar
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    Default Re: 'suffer' Vs 'suffer from'

    Quote Originally Posted by Carmen216 View Post
    Does (is) it mean that 'suffer' is for 'instant matter'?
    but the duration of physical or mental pain is longer for 'suffer from'?
    Yes, as in your origin examples.

    thanks!
    d
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    rj1948 is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: 'suffer' Vs 'suffer from'

    Suffer-loss of money ,wealth or health .Suffer from -suffer from diseases

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    Carmen216 is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: 'suffer' Vs 'suffer from'

    thanks so much!:)

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    Default Re: 'suffer' Vs 'suffer from'

    Quote Originally Posted by rj1948 View Post
    Suffer-loss of money ,wealth or health .Suffer from -suffer from diseases
    You can suffer a disease and
    you can suffer from a disease.

    He claimed to suffer a heart attack in the middle of the meeting and was taken to a local hospital.
    In Britain one in ten men under the age of retirement will suffer a heart attack.

    Suffer a loss of money= experience a loss of money.

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    Default Re: 'suffer' Vs 'suffer from'

    Also, you can suffer from something [have an illness] that doesn't make you suffer: 'She suffered from lung cancer for forty years, but didn't suffer until the last few weeks.'

    b

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    vil
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    Default Re: 'suffer' Vs 'suffer from'

    Hi Carmen216,

    In addition to Banderas’ words I subjoin something else.

    suffer from headaches = often have headaches.

    To suffer acutely.
    To suffer in silence.
    To suffer from headaches.
    To suffer from rheumatism.
    Suffereing from loss of memory.
    To suffer losses.
    To suffer heavy demage.
    To suffer a shipwreck.
    To suffer death.
    To suffer somebody to do something.
    To suffer something.
    He could not suffer criticism.
    To suffer a punishment.
    The child suffered for his impudence.
    To suffer for his carelessness.
    You will suffer one day for your insolence.
    How can you suffer such insolence?

    In general usage the preferred preposition after suffer is from, rather than with, in constructions such as He suffered from hypertension. Ninety-four percent of the Usage Panel found suffered with unacceptable in the preceding example. In medical usage suffer with is sometimes employed with reference to the pain or discomfort caused by a condition, while suffer from is used more broadly in reference to a condition, such as anemia, that is detrimental but not necessarily painful.

    suffer: Definition, Synonyms and Much More from Answers.com

    I suffer from high-tone deafness," he says.
    Long-sighted children are often reluctant to do much reading and writing and may also suffer from headaches.
    If you have a back problem, if your partner is heavier than you or if you suffer from back pain --; contact OBAS now.
    Therefore, if you suffer from a serious medical condition or disability, we suggest you contact one of the specialist agencies for advice on the suitability of your hotel and the resort area generally.
    In fact, 75 per cent of menopausal women suffer from flushes and they constitute the commonest reason for women turning to HRT.
    The representational aspects of the five theories differ widely, but all suffer from the same problems of knowledge acquisition and inefficiency when implementations are attempted.
    Furthermore, systems based on semantic primitives also suffer from the usual acquisition problem.

    Regards.

    V.

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