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The local authorities never bothered to case about the unfortunate happenings.

The local authorities were never bothered to case about the unfortunate happenings.

Is the never bothered/were never bothered used in above both sentences correct ? If yes, what is the difference in their meaning/usage ?

user212388
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  • What is "to case" intended to mean? – David42 Aug 07 '17 at 15:51
  • I assume *to case* is a typo for *to care, but note that it's not really idiomatic to speak of not bothering to care [about something]. You either don't bother about it / don't bother to do it* or you don't care about it, but not both at once. Note that They were never bothered* to fix the problem* is just about credible, but very uncommon compared to They never bothered* to fix it. It's also a bit ambiguous (did they* bother, or did someone else bother them?). – FumbleFingers Aug 07 '17 at 16:44
  • @FumbleFingers I agree. A more idiomatic alternative to the latter would include can / could: They couldn't have been bothered. I think ...they never bothered to care is possible, but sounds like an overkill and overemphasis. –  Aug 07 '17 at 17:19
  • You might want to read this. – J.R. Aug 07 '17 at 18:28

1 Answers1

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  • never bothered means they themselves never bothered.
  • were never bothered means nobody bothered them.

Both usages are correct but, as you can see, have difference in meaning.

SovereignSun
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  • To case about is not correct in this context. You might use to inquire about or to investigate. I have seen instances of to case the joint meaning to search/investigate/examine the premises or to case something up meaning to enclose it in a case but both are examples of slang or, at least, informal English. – Ronald Sole Aug 07 '17 at 15:18