Breakdown of Meine Großmutter wurde 1940 geboren.
mein
my
die Großmutter
the grandmother (neutral register)
werden
to be (passive auxiliary + past participle)
gebären
to give birth to
Questions & Answers about Meine Großmutter wurde 1940 geboren.
Why is it wurde geboren instead of war geboren?
In English, we say "was born" using the verb "to be". In German, birth is an action expressed using the passive voice with the helping verb werden (to become). Wurde is the simple past tense of werden, so the literal translation is closer to "became born".
Why isn't there an "in" before 1940?
This is a classic trap for English speakers! In German, you never say "in 1940". To state a specific year, you must either use the number completely by itself, just like in this sentence, or use the full phrase im Jahr 1940 (in the year 1940).
What is the base verb for geboren?
Geboren is the past participle of the verb gebären, which means "to give birth". Because it is the past participle in a passive sentence, the grammar rules require it to be placed at the very end of the clause.
How do you say the year 1940 out loud?
You read it as hundreds and tens. It is pronounced neunzehnhundertvierzig (nineteen-hundred forty).
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