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Re: USAGE: 'born'

From:Nik Taylor <fortytwo@...>
Date:Wednesday, May 9, 2001, 20:56
Muke Tever wrote:
> If "to be born" was _lexically_ an *active* verb (like Sp. <nacer>), then its > passive would mean something like "to be given birth to". > > Maria nació. "Mary was born." > Maria se nació. "Mary was born [PASS]" > (which makes me want to ask: ¿Cómo se nació Maria?)
Nacerse is not a legal verb in Spanish. To be born is an intransitive verb, an intransitive verb CANNOT have a passive, because it cannot have an object. A passive is when an object is made into the subject. If one used it transitively, it would have a causative meaning (or an idiomatic meaning, but that's another issue), i.e., "cause to be born", e.g. "give birth to".
> [I don't actually know a Spanish verb for 'to give birth'.]
Parir. -- Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon A nation without a language is a nation without a heart - Welsh proverb ICQ: 18656696 AIM Screen-Name: NikTaylor42

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Muke Tever <alrivera@...>