Suffered (from) its worst typhoon ever

Question

This island recently suffered (from) its worst typhoon ever.Hi,I think "from" in the above is a must, but the original doesn't have it. So, I'd like to know your viewpoints. Thanks.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

The omission of "from" is quite common. "The team suffered it's most embarrassing defeat last night."

When we use the article, it's almost always omitted. "The stock market suffered a loss today."

If it's an event, it's usually omitted. If it's a condition, it's usually included.

She suffers from epilepsy. She suffered an epileptic attack this afternoon.

He is still suffering from the effects of his accident.
(The accident was an event, but the effects constitute a condition.)

In last night's loss, the team suffered from the absence of its star player.

Angliholic · Answer

Thanks, Avangi.

I know better now, but there are still some cases that are hard to tell if they are events or conditions. For example,

My father suffers (from) high blood pressure.

He suffered (from) many humiliations before he became a football star.

Are the "from" in the above two optional?

Avangi · Answer

High blood pressure is definately a condition, and "from" is generally used. Some people may omit it, but not often. I wouldn't say it's absolutely required.

Your second example is sort of a grey area. "Humiliation" is both countable and uncountable. You could say "He suffers from constant humiliation," using the uncountable. This is a condition.

When you say "many humiliations," you're using the countable. Any given humiliation is an event, and I would definitely omit the "from." "He suffered another humiliation last night."

Sometimes we use "from" to mean we suffer from the effects of the event. In my opinion, it's a different meaning. He suffered the loss of his wife. (event - it happened)
He suffers from the loss of his wife. (condition - he continues to suffer because of the event)

The island is suffering from it's worst typhoon ever. This is really a different sense from "suffering the attack."

Let's say that when you use the "from," you definately make it refer to the condition.

When you omit the "from," it still may be a condition, but it would normally be an event. That is, it's not incorrect to say "I suffer high blood pressure." It's simply much more common to say, "I suffer from high blood pressure."

BTW, the point I made in my first post about not using "from" with the article has too many exceptions to be a useful rule. (I suffered ~~from~~ a setback today.) It works in most cases but not all.
(I suffered from a bad back for ten years.)

Suffered (from) its worst typhoon ever

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions