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KaaJee Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

propagating

Almost no Google result after searching either "begin propagating" or "start to propagate." I don't know why.
Is the following correct?
There were only three bears in the zoo for long years but this year they started to propagate/began propagating.
  

Top answer

I don't know why you're seeing no results for those phrases. I see loads, as expected. However, "propagate" is not the correct verb when referring to animals reproducing.

— GPY

  • I don't know why you're seeing no results for those phrases.
  • I see loads, as expected.
  • However, "propagate" is not the correct verb when referring to animals reproducing.
  • "breed" would work.
  • "for long years" is not quite right.
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4 Answers
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I don't know why you're seeing no results for those phrases. I see loads, as expected.

However, "propagate" is not the correct verb when referring to animals reproducing. "breed" would work.

"for long years" is not quite right. You could say "for many years".
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Thank you. "Breeding" really seems to be better, however, I don't know if it is used only when they are kept by people, or also outside human environment, I mean that the animals do so by their own will, and I don't know if this word is used with every kind of animals. From birds and insects to one-celled beings. Do they too are said to be breed?
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In such cases, I would usually use 'reproduce'.

Clive
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KaaJee"Breeding" really seems to be better, however, I don't know if it is used only when they are kept by people, or also outside human environment, I mean that the animals do so by their own will,
Transitive "breed" is the human-directed kind of reproduction (e.g. "He breeds horses"); instransitive "breed" is something that animals do naturally.
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