Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Is what or why correct?

7 replies

supersuper · 16/01/2019 20:19

Evening everyone,

Could you please help me settle a debate with my partner?

The scenario is our 4 year old is crying and my partner asks him "why are you crying for?"
I correct him and say the correct wording is "what are you crying for?"

He doesn't agree and insists on using why.

Which one is correct?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
GreenTulips · 16/01/2019 20:21

Why are you crying? or
What are you crying for?

So yes you’re right

bobstersmum · 16/01/2019 20:30

Why are you crying for sounds like so something that someone on the Jeremy Kyle show would say.

iklboo · 16/01/2019 20:35

You're right.

If he starts the sentence with 'why' you don't put 'for' at the end.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

4 year olds Families General parenting
AssassinatedBeauty · 16/01/2019 20:40

You're right.

"Why are you crying?" is fine.
"What are you crying for?" is also fine.
A combination of both, not fine!

Pinkyyy · 16/01/2019 20:41

Are you very northern? His sentence (although incorrect) is commonly said up north

emilybrontescorsett · 16/01/2019 20:41

Greentulips is correct.

Original poster
supersuper · 16/01/2019 20:56

I'm from the north but my partner is from Coventry, so not northern at all!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.