Born vs. Borne

Born is connected with the commencement of life. Borne relates to carrying, transporting, enduring, or tolerating something.

What does the word born mean?

Born is a word that is primarily associated with the beginning of life. It is the past participle form of the verb "bear," which means to give birth to a child or bring into existence. Here's how born is used:

Birth of Living Beings

"Born" is exclusively used when referring to the emergence of a new life. Whether it's a human, an animal, or even a plant, you use "born" to describe their birth.

She was born on a sunny day in May.

The baby giraffe was born at the zoo.

Past Participle

"Born" is commonly used in conjunction with auxiliary verbs like "has," "had," or "was" to indicate the completion of the birth process.

He had been born in a small village.

Adjective

"Born" can function as an adjective when describing someone's innate qualities or characteristics.

She is a born artist.

What does the word borne mean?

Borne, on the other hand, is the past participle of the verb "bear" when used in a different context. It doesn't relate to the birth of something but instead means to carry, support, or endure. Here's how borne is used:

Carrying or Transporting

"Borne" is used when describing the act of carrying or transporting something.

The weight of the world's problems is borne by many charitable organizations.

Enduring or Tolerating

In a figurative sense, "borne" can mean enduring or tolerating something, such as hardships, responsibilities, or burdens.

She bore the brunt of criticism with grace.

He bore the weight of his family's expectations.

Passive Voice

Like "born," "borne" is frequently used in passive voice constructions.

The consequences of their actions were borne by the entire community.

So, the next time you're writing about the birth of a new life, use "born," and when discussing carrying a burden or enduring challenges, opt for "borne." Mastering these nuances will enhance your writing and communication skills, ensuring that your message is conveyed accurately and effectively.

Example sentences

She was born on a cold winter morning.
The famous author was born in a small village.
He was born prematurely and spent several weeks in the hospital.
The twins were born on the same day but at different times.
My niece was born with a full head of hair.
The weight of the heavy suitcase was too much for her to have borne alone.
The consequences of their actions must be borne by the entire team.

Practice questions

She was born/borne in a small town in Italy.
The baby was born/borne on a sunny morning in April.
My grandmother born/borne five children in her lifetime.
He was born/borne into a loving family.
The weight of responsibility must be borne/born by both partners in a marriage.
The consequences of their actions must be borne/born by the entire team.
The burden of guilt was too heavy to be borne/born alone.
The hardships of war are often borne/born by civilians.
The weight of the backpack she had borne/born for hours finally made her realize how strong she was.
The news of his son being born/borne brought tears of joy to his eyes.

If you still are unsure about which to use, try out Engram where you can submit your English sentences to get immediate feedback and suggestions based on how native English speakers write.