make two babies

L

l3376876

Banned
Chinese, Taiwan
Little penguins usually have two babies a year in the summertime.

Is it possible to replace have with make in the context? If yes, does it change the meaning of the sentence?

Thanks.
 
    • In this case, "make" would sound extremely odd to this native speakers ears - I would normally only expect a child or someone joking to use "make" in this collocation.

    Also, when speaking in a nature context, I would prefer "produce" in this case:
    "Penguins usually produce two offspring each year, in the summertime/during the summer."
    That's just my €0.02 though :)
     
    sarcie said:
    In this case, "make" would sound extremely odd to this native speakers ears - I would normally only expect a child or someone joking to use "make" in this collocation.

    Also, when speaking in a nature context, I would prefer "produce" in this case:
    "Penguins usually produce two offspring each year, in the summertime/during the summer."
    That's just my €0.02 though :)
    Click to expand...

    I agree! the term "make babies" has too much of a sexual connotation, or at best, seems to put more emphasis on the act, rather than on the finished product! You might also want to re-phrase your sentence in order to clarify if penquins ONLY make babies in the summertime, or if they make two in the summertime, and four in the wintertime."
     
    sarcie said:
    In this case, "make" would sound extremely odd to this native speakers ears - I would normally only expect a child or someone joking to use "make" in this collocation.

    Also, when speaking in a nature context, I would prefer "produce" in this case:
    "Penguins usually produce two offspring each year, in the summertime/during the summer."
    That's just my €0.02 though :)
    Click to expand...

    I agree. "Make babies" refers to the beginning of the process, not the end result. ;)
     
    l3376876 said:
    Little penguins usually have two babies a year in the summertime.

    Is it possible to replace have with make in the context? If yes, does it change the meaning of the sentence?

    Thanks.
    Click to expand...
    I wouldn't use babies either.

    I like sarcie's suggestion of "offspring" but I would use "chicks."

    There may be a special name for penguin chicks - some bird chicks have special names - ducks/ducklings, swans/cygnets.
     
    About.com says 'chicks' (not the hardiest of resources but, strangely, it's all I could find at the moment).

    Exactly what is a 'little penguin' anyway? Opposed to larger ones, or maybe opposed to older ones with a better m-paternity record?
     
    Little penguins usually have two babies a year in the summertime.
    Click to expand...
    Clearly you should not use make in this sentence :D
    Penguins do not have babies, they lay eggs, they incubate the eggs, the eggs hatch.
    Little penguins? - what are these?
     
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