Common Mistakes : Bear

verb

.BAD: The government also controls the number of children that a couple can bear

.GOOD: The government also controls the number of children that a couple can have

.BAD: I want to get married and bear children

.GOOD: I want to get married and have children

Bear (sb) a child is used only in formal styles and refers to the physical process of giving birth

.She bore her husband two daughters and one son.’ The subject of bear is always a woman

When you are talking about beginning a family or the number of children in a family, use have , NOT bear

.We’d like to have children while we’re still young

.BAD: I can’t bear any longer,’ he said. ‘I’m ready to resign

.GOOD: I can’t bear it any longer,’ he said. ‘I’m ready to resign

.BAD: I can’t bear if someone starts cracking their knuckles

.GOOD: I can’t bear it if someone starts cracking their knuckles

(can’t bear + it (+ if/when clause

.I can’t bear it when people start complaining about nothing