eggs are born

[Tedwonny]

While a child is born - is ok

I suppose 'eggs are born' isn't, right?

Thanks

 

[Gillnetter]

A child is born. A chicken is born. Both come from an egg. An egg isn't born, an egg is where life begins.

 

[charliedeut]

And in the case of birds and other species born from eggs: eggs are laid (lay eggs is what female birds/fish do).

charliedeut

 

[Tedwonny]

How about

1) Butterflies are first borned as eggs. Does it make any sense?

2) Also, I've come across something like "she was born Josephine XXXX "

Does it mean that she was born to be called Josephine XXX?

thank you very much

 

[5jj]

1) Butterflies are first born[STRIKE]ed[/STRIKE] as eggs. Does it make any sense?

No

 

[emsr2d2]

"Butterflies are first born as eggs" is very unnatural even with "born" instead of "borned".

Butterflies start life as eggs. Of course, the eggs hatch into caterpillars which eventually build a cocoon and then re-emerge as butterflies.

 

[philo2009]

Eggs HATCH!

 

[BobK]

:up: It's a schizophrenic sort of verb - I imagine there may be a word for verb that can be both transitive and intrensitive, but if so I don't know it. 'Ambivalent' would be less ... er... striking (;-)) than 'schizophrenic'. Eggs hatch and they are hatched. Both work.

b

 

[BobK]

How about

...
2) Also, I've come across something like "she was born Josephine XXXX "

Does it mean that she was born to be called Josephine XXX?

thank you very much

No. The clue is in the term 'given name'; 'Josephine' is the name that was give to her at birth. Sentences that start 's/he was born <name>...' often (but not always) go on '... but was more widely known as <other-name>.' for example 'She was born Mary Ann Brailsford, but when she planted some apple pips that produced a unique and versatile cooking apple she came to wider notice as Mrs Bramley' or 'She was born Marie Skldowska, but is more widely known as the wife of Pierre Cure'.

b

 

[raphey]

No. The clue is in the term 'given name'; 'Josephine' is the name that was give to her at birth. Sentences that start 's/he was born <name>...' often (but not always) go on '... but was more widely known as <other-name>.' for example 'She was born Mary Ann Brailsford, but when she planted some apple pips that produced a unique and versatile cooking apple she came to wider notice as Mrs Bramley' or 'She was born Marie Skldowska, but is more widely known as the wife of Pierre Cure'.

b

One more thing to note, Tedwonny: "born to" is an idiom referring to a natural talent or strong inclination to do something. "I was born to waterski!" or "I was born to be a flight attendant!"
So when you say "she was born to be called Josephine," it sounds strange.

(Not a teacher)

 

[BobK]

Thanks - I miissed that.

b

 

[philo2009]

:up: It's a schizophrenic sort of verb - I imagine there may be a word for verb that can be both transitive and intrensitive,
b

Yes, there is indeed: an ERGATIVE verb.

 

[ToldiM]

Yes, there is indeed: an ERGATIVE verb.

Middle verbs also.

 

[Rover_KE]

Middle verbs also.

Middle verbs are rather different.

Please read this extract from the Posting Guidelines:

You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly at the top of your post.

Rover

 

[ToldiM]

are rather different.

Please read this extract from the Posting Guidelines:

You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly at the top of your post.

Rover

If I read you correctly, Rover, you are trying to imply that, given that my opinion is at odds with that of yours, I can't be a teacher, and, consequently, in keeping with your rules, I must state my non-teacher status clearly.

1. I am a teacher.
2. Bob wrote: imagine there may be a word for verb that can be both transitive and intrensitive
Middle words indeed fit in the description. :up:

Your link, who wrote that? The mailman? Who?

 

[Chicken Sandwich]

If I read you correctly, Rover, you are trying to imply that, given that my opinion is at odds with that of yours, I can't be a teacher, and, consequently, in keeping with your rules, I must state my non-teacher status clearly.

No, your profile says that you are not a teacher.

 

[Rover_KE]

Here's our own forum's definition of middle verbs.

My postman has never heard of them.

Rover

 

[charliedeut]

My postman has never heard of them.

Hope you didn't make him ring twice! ;-)

 

[ToldiM]

No, my profile says my status, my profession, is something even Rover is not granted authorization to poke his nose into ; since I had to choose something, I went for "other". That is another story.
Is it not what we write in posts that matters, anyway?
Rover is clearly wrong in his point, What is the point in stating statuses anymore?

To 5jj: You do not like to label grammar (your signature), but, apparently, you are in favor of labelling people. why is that so?

 

[bhaisahab]

No, my profile says my status, my profession, is something even Rover is not granted authorization to poke his nose into ; since I had to choose something, I went for "other". That is another story.
Is it not what we write in posts that matters, anyway?
Rover is clearly wrong in his point, What is the point in stating statuses any more?

To 5jj: You do not like to label grammar, but, apparently, you are in favor of labelling people. why is that so?

The rules of the forum state that you are required to say whether you are a teacher or not when answering questions.