be born
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To come into existence through the process of birth: This verb describes the event of a baby or animal beginning its life outside its mother's womb. It is almost always used in the passive voice.
Usage
- The verb "be born" is used to state the time, date, place, or circumstances of a person's or sometimes an animal's birth.
- It is an intransitive verb phrase and is always used with a form of the verb "be" (am, is, are, was, were, etc.).
- It is commonly followed by prepositional phrases beginning with "in," "on," "at," or "to."
Examples
- Verb:
- He was born in Paris.
- The idea for the novel was born during her travels. (Figurative use)
- Three kittens were born last night.
Advanced Usage
- "To be born into": To enter a particular family, social class, or set of circumstances at birth.
- She was born into a family of musicians.
- "To be born with": To have a particular characteristic, trait, or condition from birth.
- He was born with a natural talent for painting.
- Figurative Use: Can describe the origin or inception of an idea, movement, or institution.
- A new era of peace was born from the negotiations.
Variants and Related Words
- Birth (n): The act or process of being born.
- The birth of their child was a joyous occasion.
- Newborn (adj/n): Recently born.
- The newborn calf was very weak.
- Inborn (adj): Existing from birth; innate.
- She has an inborn sense of rhythm.
Synonyms
- Come into the world: A more descriptive phrase for being born.
- See the light of day: An idiomatic expression meaning to be born or to come into existence.
Related Phrases
- Born and bred: Used to emphasize that someone has lived in a particular place since they were born and it has shaped their character.
- He's a Londoner, born and bred.
- Born yesterday: An idiom used to suggest someone is not naive or easily fooled (usually in the negative: "I wasn't born yesterday").
- Do you think I'd believe that story? I wasn't born yesterday.
Notes
- The past participle of the verb is "born." Do not confuse it with "borne," which is the past participle of "bear" meaning to carry.
- "Be born" is a fixed phrase. You cannot say "born" alone as a verb in standard usage (e.g., "I born in 1990" is incorrect; it must be "I was born in 1990").
Verb
- come into existence through birth
- She was born on a farm