He was born on/in a bed

Question

Finding the right preposition is always tricky for non-native speakers of English. I'd like to know what native speakers think of these two versions:

(1) He was born on a bed.

(2) He was born in a bed.

Here, the "bed" is not a figurative bed but simply a piece of furniture for sleep or rest, typically a framework with a mattress and coverings.

Are both idiomatic and natural to native speakers?

Or is one more idiomatic and natural than the other?

M.Mat · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-10 05:20:08Z

1

> (2) He was born in a bed.

Sorta. Lose the article and rephrase it slightly adding more description:

He was born in his mother's bed as there were no hospitals nearby.

Describe the situation giving some detail as to whose bed and why a bed rather than the more traditionally Western, medical setting.

answered Mar 10 '17 at 4:30

M.Mat

5203 silver badges7 bronze badges

1

Also sounding natural to this native speaker: He was born in the back seat of a taxi. He was born on a sofa in the living room. He was born on a table in the kitchen. He was born on the deck of a ship. – Xanne Mar 10 '17 at 4:36
Some people might say that home birth is the more traditional setting. – Cascabel Mar 10 '17 at 5:18
1

@Cascabel: I KNEW this was coming. I made a slight alteration. – M.Mat Mar 10 '17 at 5:21
Yeah, this place is full of weisenheimers. – Cascabel Mar 10 '17 at 5:28
1

Is that 'weisONheimers' or 'weisINheimers?' – M.Mat Mar 10 '17 at 5:31

| Show 4 more comments

1 Answer 1