[Grammar] She died of sorrow

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mrmvp

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I am writing a story and I am really puzzled which sentence is correct and why and what is the difference in the meaning of sentence 1 and 2?

1 She died of sorrow.

2 She was dead of sorrow.

Thank you.
 

GoesStation

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Number 1 is natural. Number 2 isn't.
 

mrmvp

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Thank you so much.

How can a person perform actions like dying unless I add a word like himself? For example, she killed herself.

So, we have to use passive voice.for example, she was born in the USA or he is born.
 

GoesStation

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She died and She committed suicide are in the active voice.

There is no active equivalent for She was born in the USA.
 

mrmvp

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Yes, I agree with you. However, can I use a passive voice like the example above, she was dead of sorrow. I am writting a story and I do not know which to use.
 

GoesStation

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Yes, I agree with you. However, can I use a passive voice like the example above, she was dead of sorrow. I am writing a story and I do not know which to use.

See post number 2.
 
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GoesStation

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Thank you,[space here] but I want to know why it does not sound natural.

It's hard to say why a construction which is grammatically fine wouldn't occur in natural speech. We just tend not to use the passive voice to describe an active situation when an active form is available.
 
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Lynxear

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The problem you have is that you are asking if a four word sentence sounds natural. This is especially true when you are talking about death. It is not natural to say this and nothing more, even in conversation.

"She died of sorrow.
" is grammatically correct sentence, but it is an incomplete thought.
 

probus

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' "She died of sorrow." is grammatically correct sentence, but it is an incomplete thought."'

"She died of sorrow" is not "grammatically complete sentence". If anything it is "a grammatically complete sentence." The indefinite article is required.

And "She died of sorrow" is not an incomplete thought. It is s perfect sentence.

Who is this supposed native speaker, Lynxear, moderators?
 

Lynxear

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And "She died of sorrow" is not an incomplete thought. It is [STRIKE]s[/STRIKE] a perfect sentence.

Who is this supposed native speaker, Lynxear, moderators?

I suppose anyone can make a typo, can't they? Even you, oh wise one!

"Who is this supposed native speaker, Lynxear, moderators?"

Are you questioning my being a native English speaker with this kind of construction?:roll:
 
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