A Common Mistake
Using ‘born’ incorrectly is such a common mistake for English students but luckily it is quite easy to understand and to fix. ‘Born’ is one of the first verbs students learn. Why? Well, in beginner and elementary English we learn to talk about ourselves. We often talk about what we are and things we do or have.
“Hi, my name is Alex. I am 105 years old. I play tennis. I have 27 cats and a dog. I was born in 1912.”
So why do we say “I was born…” not “I born…” ?
The Grammar
To be born uses the ‘passive voice’. We use the passive voice to talk about things that happen TO people, NOT what people DO. Your mother or your doctor helped you because you were a baby. That’s it! Use the passive voice when using the verb ‘born’.
Examples
I born in 1912.
I was born in China. (Past Passive)
Most children are born without hair. (Present Passive)
Hundreds of babies will be born without names next year. (Future Passive)
