The History of ‘-Ing’
The History of ‘-Ing’
The History of ‘-Ing’
The History of ‘-Ing’: The history of the ending ‘-ing’ is a matter of interest while reading the history of the English language. Originally the use of ‘–ing’ was restricted only to nouns. But in the course of time, its uses have been extended considerably.
At an early age of the English language, the ending ‘-ing’ was added only to nouns from other nouns. As for example: school+ing=schooling; shirt+ing=shirting; stable+ing =stabling, suit+ing=suiting.
By the fifteen century, its use was extended considerably at first to weak verbs and then to strong verbs except for auxiliary verbs. For example: coming, taking, feeling etc.
By verbs added to the ending ‘-ing’ acquired the function of noun and they take plural endings like other nouns, as– comings, goings, takings, feelings, drawings etc.
Like nouns, the verbal nouns may have taken a definite or indefinite article or an adjective before them as: the drawing, a drawing, good drawing etc.
The nouns made by such way can be combined with other nouns to make compound nouns as: picture-drawing, college-teaching, teaching-experience, dining-table etc.
They can be used both in nominative and accusative cases as: Walking in the morning is a good exercise; he stopped reading etc.
Like transitive verbs they can take objects in the accusative cases, e.g. I want his seeing the picture.
They are modified also by adverbs as in- I ordered his immediately leaving the room.
In some connection, the verbs ending in ‘–ing’ assumes a passive meaning as: These shoes want mending; the story lost much in the writing.
Another function of the ending ‘-ing’ is that it is used to form continuous tenses as: He is writing a letter; Ram is working in the field.
Thus the history of the ending ‘-ing’ is very significant from the grammatical view of the English language and the extension of the ending ‘-ing’ has made the English language more easy, terse, logical and expressive. 0 0 0
The History of ‘-Ing’
Read More: An Essay on Standard English
N. B. This article entitled ‘The History of ‘-Ing’ originally belongs to the book ‘A Brief History of the English Language‘ by Menonim Menonimus. The History of ‘-Ing’
Books on Linguistics by M. Menonimus:
- A Brief History of the English Language
- Essays on Linguistics
- My Imageries
- Felicitous Expression: Some Examples
- Learners’ English Dictionary
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