to start a family

[yi-ing]

I know the phrase "start a family" means "plan for having children". Now, I want to know what the appropriate phrase is for boyfriends and girlfriends who are planning to marry, to become independent form their families, and to start a family finally.

Thanks.

 

[emsr2d2]

I know the phrase "start a family" means "plan for having children".
That's not right. "Plan to start a family" means "plan to have children". "Start a family" means "to get pregnant and give birth to a child".

Now, I want to know what the appropriate phrase is for boyfriends and girlfriends who are planning to marry, to become independent [STRIKE]form[/STRIKE] from their families, and to start a family finally.

There is no set phrase for doing all of those things.

Thanks.

See above. I have changed your thread title so that it is specific and unique to this thread.

 

[yi-ing]

Thanks so much Emsr2d2.

There is no set phrase for doing all of those things.

How about if we just want to say that "boyfriends and girlfriends who are planning to marry"?

 

[emsr2d2]

My son and his girlfriend plan to marry. (This is just a general plan for the future. )
My son and his boyfriend are planning their wedding. (They have set a date and are making the arrangements.)
My sister and her girlfriend would like to get married. (They might marry. They might not. We know that they would like to. )

None of those has anything to do with having children.

 

[sania-baharat]

Is this OK?
My son and his girlfriend plan to get married.

I think maybe we can use "get married" when couples have became wifes and husband. I am not sure, though.

 

[Rover_KE]

... the fact that they are planning to marry does not necessarily mean that they are planning to have children.

Additionally, couples of all sexes (male/female/indeterminate) might also be planning to have children without getting married. Millions do.

 

[emsr2d2]

Is this OK?
My son and his girlfriend plan to get married.

I think maybe we can use "get married" when couples have [STRIKE]became[/STRIKE] become [STRIKE]wifes[/STRIKE] wife and husband. I am not sure, though.

If they're already married, it's too late to use "get married" except as part of a past tense.

When did you get married?
We got married in May last year.

You can't ask a married couple "When will you get married?"

 

[andrewg927]

Perhaps you could ask (though you should never) "When will you get a divorce?" and then ask "When will you remarry?".