Give birth means to have a baby, to bring a child into the world. The baby follows to: give birth to a daughter, give birth to twins. It is used for both people and animals.
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give birth; give birth to + baby/twins; give birth at home / in hospital
- My sister gave birth to a healthy baby girl late last night.
- She decided to give birth at home with the help of a midwife.
- Our cat gave birth to four kittens in a box under the bed.
What changed
First versionIn March she gave birth a healthy boy.
RevisionIn March she gave birth to a healthy boy.
Give is already followed by birth, so the baby can't come straight after the verb. It is added with to: gave birth to a healthy boy.
When sharing family news, people more often say have a baby: They had a baby last spring. Give birth is more precise when the birth itself matters: where, when and how it went.
Your turn
Anna was born in this hospital, and thirty years later she ___ her own daughter here.
Show the answer
gave birth to — In the second half Anna isn't being born herself; she becomes a mother, and the sentence names her child: gave birth to her own daughter. Was born means she herself came into the world, and it can't be followed by the child.
Write a short piece of news about a baby born to relatives or friends: say who gave birth, whether it was a boy or a girl, and when.
My cousin Olga gave birth to a son last Tuesday, and both of them are doing well.
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