overflowing and overflowed

[Awake2reality]

Hi,

Can I replace 'overflowing' with 'overflowed' in the following sentence?
If yes, does the meaning change?

They were overflowing with emotion at the birth of their baby.

Thanks.

[Mister Micawber]

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No. The overflow is happening at the time of the birth.

They were overflowing with emotion at the birth of their baby.
but
They overflowed with emotion at the birth of their baby..
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Lost_Soul]

Hi, Mister Micawber

I quoted this sentence from my dictionary

I was overflowed with joy

My understanding is : if I say I was overflowed with joy it means that I had just reached a fever pitch of exitement, but if I say I was overflowing with joy it means that my feelings were still climbing "up the ladder".

Can you confirm it (or disprove it)?

[Mister Micawber]

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I think it is quite odd, and that in any case the meanings cannot be differentiated so neatly. Which is your dictionary?
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_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Lost_Soul]

My dictionary is notorious Lingvo 11.0 which has been blamed upon by you on this forum for being russian-oriented
They probably just made a slip and it should read I was overflowing with joy (shouldn't it ?)

PS: I was wondering if I could use blame together with upon like I just did in this post. Could you give me a lead, please ?

[Mister Micawber]

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Well. that's a relief-- I was afraid you were going to tell me that you use Merriam-Webster's! At least, I am consistent in my criticism.

Yes, I think I was overflowing with joy is the common form. Let's check with Ms Google:

12,700 English pages for "I was overflowing with joy".
3 English pages for "I was overflowed with joy"
1 English pages for "I overflowed with joy"

Oops! She doesn't like the simple past-- but probably the following is a more common collocation:

515 English pages for "My heart overflowed with joy".

As for 'blame'-- no 'upon', in fact, no preposition in the active: She blames me .

My dictionary...has been blamed by you.
The Israelis have been blamed by the Palestinians for splitting the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
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_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Lost_Soul]

Hi, Mister Micawber
Thank you for your comment, it was exhaustive

[Awake2reality]

Thank you both.