Fui nacido vs Nací

[BobRitter]

Una pregunta simple:

¿Por general es mejor usar la structura en el pasado?

Fui nacido en EEUU. O
Nací en EEUU.

Ambos significa "I was born in the United States".

Como siempre, gracias.

[Rusty]

Both of the phrases you wrote work, but it is much more common to use nací.

[aleCcowaN]

Fui nacido is an archaism and sounds completely horrific. The most "modern" instance I managed to find is from a text by Calderón de la Barca dated 1645. Even that text may be justified because it refers to sin, most probably the original one ("fui nacido en pecado").

English speakers should realize the verb bear in its meaning of "to give birth to" is a transitive verb while the verb nacer is intransitive. If I'm saying "soy nacido en la Argentina" that implies but doesn't mean I was born (delivered) in Argentina. The use of ser implies that I'm a natural born citizen, that it is in my nature to be an Argentine.

The verb bear means a mother is giving birth while the verb nacer implies a child who is leaving the womb. Unwillingly, but leaving anyway.

[aguiucha21]

"Fui nacido" it's not used in México, never. We always use "Nací" p.e.

- Yo nací en Guadalajara, Jalisco.
- Nací en una familia muy pobre.
- Nací en el tiempo de la revolución.
- Nací 2 años antes que tú.

I'm learning english for now, but if I can help you with your Spanish, I will try that you understand me.

Un saludo a todos.

[poli]

Could you use fue nacido instead of acuñado? In English to coin and to give birth to can be synonymous in some circumstances.

[aleCcowaN]

nacer is always intransitive.

[alvaro97]

"Nací" is active voice (the subject performs the action). In "Fui nacido" he receives it. I've never heard the second one in Spain, I doubt if is grammatically correct.

I hope it helps you