He had cried vs He kept crying

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. 'He had cried' indicates that the crying occurred at a specific point in the past, while 'he kept crying' suggests a continuous or repeated action in the past. The choice between the two depends on the context and the specific nuance the speaker wants to convey.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 872 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that crying occurred at a specific point in the past.

"He had cried"

This phrase is used to describe an action of crying that happened at a specific time in the past. It is often used in storytelling or recounting events.

Examples:

He had cried when he heard the news.
By the time she arrived, he had cried himself to sleep.

Show examples from the web [+]

He had cried until 5:00.
But he cried someone had to die.
Then I understood why Grandpa had cried like that.
Those poor young blokes had cried out in fear, no one was listening to them.
We tried talking him out of it, but he cried and cried, so we thought we'd bring him in, see if you thought he had what it takes.
We tried talking him out of it, but he cried and cried, so we thought we'd bring him in, see if you thought he had what it takes.
I've cried and cried and cried...
He cried and cried and cried.
If the baby had cried, what then?
I was better after I had cried, than before... more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle.
I cried more than you have ever cried in your whole life.
In phase depression, she cried.
They both cried after hearing the tragic news.
Your mother cried her last night here.
The audience cried when Marilyn died.
He only cried when you left.
He cried and ate half the samples.
The dear Countess cried and cried.
He cried, and I cried...
You cried and cried, but I was right.

Alternatives:

he had been crying
he cried
he was crying
he had shed tears
he had wept

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a continuous or repeated action of crying in the past.

"He kept crying"

This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone continued to cry over a period of time in the past. It implies a sense of duration or repetition.

Examples:

He kept crying throughout the night.
She kept crying every time she thought about the accident.

Show examples from the web [+]

He kept crying: I'm cold.
He kept crying till I sent him bus money.
I kept crying and calling for him because my right leg was hurting.
Whether not recognizing me or ignoring me, she just kept crying.
When I came out there was a woman working on that hill who kept crying.
She kept crying on that hill.
So I kept crying and she kept holding me tight.
I'm so sorry I made you work on Christmas... but the kids kept crying for Brown Mommy.
She kept crying and I could take it.
Yes, but she kept crying!
No wonder that little girl kept crying and saying,
And kept crying until I felt empty.
They carried her down the hall... and... the white-haired man just kept crying.
When she first started drinking, she kept crying and asking what she was supposed to do.
It became less and less loud... but it kept crying for a very long time.
I know I got the swaddling thing down, but the baby kept on crying.
You kept stirring and crying out.
You held my hand so tightly, it was the only thing that kept me from crying.
(CRYING) He kept asking for it back.
He kept talking about an attack.

Alternatives:

he was crying continuously
he continued to cry
he cried repeatedly
he was in tears
he sobbed

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

He had cried vs He kept crying

"He had cried"

"He kept crying"

Related Comparisons