He kept crying vs He had continued crying

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. 'He kept crying' implies a continuous action in the past, while 'he had continued crying' suggests that the crying was ongoing at a specific point in the past. The choice between them depends on the context and the specific nuance the speaker wants to convey.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 2298 views

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

"He kept crying"

This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone cried continuously over a period of time in the past.

Examples:

He kept crying throughout the movie.
She kept crying after hearing the news.

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 continued crying
he was crying
he cried persistently
he didn't stop crying
he was in tears

This phrase is correct and conveys the idea that the crying was ongoing at a specific point in the past.

"He had continued crying "

This phrase is used to emphasize that the crying had been ongoing up to a certain point in the past.

Examples:

By the time I arrived, he had continued crying for hours.
He had continued crying until his friends arrived.

Show examples from the web [+]

You know, I'm thinking that if he had continued to treat Major Dunham, his notes might still be there in the hospital records.
What happened was, he had discovered evidence that the spying for Germany had continued, even after Dreyfus was in prison.
At around 3 to 4 a.m. on the morning of 4 September, masked men abducted Ali Khanbiev from his home in the village of Benoi (Chechnya), where he had continued to work as a doctor in the local hospital.
Giuliano had continued to kidnap, blackmail and kill.
If the hadrosaur had continued to evolve over the last 65 million years, extrapoIate the most probable appearance. extrapolation complete.
The hard times which occurred after the Civil War could have been avoided if the Greenback legislation had continued as President Lincoln had intended.
If we had continued to remove that water, we would have destroyed them all.
I noted with satisfaction, on behalf of the Council, that Cuba had continued to be very active in various international and regional forums.
In the letters Chris wrote me from college, it was clear his anguish and problems with Mom and Dad had continued.
You see, I thought I had taken some rest, but really my brain had continued to work on it.
If we had continued decorating by hand... I'd have been a plate painter all my life.
I say that sooner or I had continued drogarmi to... I would have lost everything.
During the Hearing it became clear that the investigation had continued after the SO was sent.
In addition, the Commission was not sure how HSCz had continued production without working capital and whether it had received other financial aid.
In the letters Chris wrote me from college, it was clear his anguish and problems with Mom and Dad had continued.
If we had continued for a few more laps, I am sure Ayrton would have passed him.
The Greek authorities have discovered that over 4000 people who had been dead for some time had continued to receive retirement pensions for years.
At the end of 2002 the total liability was already large, at EUR 273 million, and it had continued to grow significantly over the period since then.
After the crosses in the stone the expedition had continued for the river.
If you had continued to read Article 15, concerning student-council elections... you'd know that once the votes have been certified... a faculty sponsor must approve any request for a re-count.

Alternatives:

he had been crying
he had not stopped crying
he had persisted in crying
he had been in tears
he had been sobbing

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

Personalized answers to your language questions
Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
Ready in 24 hours

ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

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 kept crying vs He had continued crying

"He kept crying"

"He had continued crying "

Related Comparisons

2. Submit Your Text

3. Receive Your Polished Text