Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-05-31
COMMUNICATIONS.
"BEING BUILT"
Quidquid venerit obviam loqusmur
Mor0sa sine coeitatione. Martial

Messrs GALEs q STATION In your paper OF the 18th
umo an interesting extract from Hanison's Rse, Pro-
ges and Present Structure of the English Language pub
lished by "B," In which comments made upon the
phrase the head Of this article Like Harrison and B. -
feel great socude for the publication Of the English lam
gusge and although not my vocation, theirs to teach
the correct Of language yet think proper to express
few reflections upon this subject which may be received Of
what they worth What little time devoted to English
grammar. Liadey Murray my text book Although
many grammas have been published since that time do
not know that much improvement has been effected To
there no essential difference between his division Of verbs
into "active." passive" and "neutsr with his expsna-
tons, and Obs into ransitve and intransitve with his
explanations But the present occasion, shall have
eye mainly to Murray because his division better fitted
to illustrate the in hand.
Acknowledging the very great difficulty in dealing with the
English VERBS ncudng participates, in giving definitions to
the different parts, and even in determining positively how
many parts there are properly belonging TO them, and dis
claiming any presumption of knowing about the matter
than Others enter upon the subject by saying that
bold correct definitions be the foundation Of all know
ledge. appears that confusion has crept into this
matter from two sources
BY falling to keep constantly the mind Mereal DIS
ncon bet,eeen the acue, passve, and neut0 verb. In
very many instances the verb Is used in the active and
neutcr passive
form and the idea may be expressed by using the
mood and tense in the active and in the passive form chang
ing the position Of the agent object acted on-,hus
mix the Ingredients and "he ingredients are mixed by me-
convey the idea Many verbs do not admit the
passive formthus, 'he Ingredients mix we'll" cannot be
transferred into the passive form. "The ingredients are we'll
mixed is altogether different idea. II may be urged that
many neuteT verbs receive the passive FORM But if So the
passive and active form express the idea without chang
ing the subject-as "corn sells at dollar and corn is
sold at dollar" Most PERSONS appehend, would say that
the latter example the passive form Of the active verb
Hence, applying the rules to the verb whether
used ransitvey inansvely is liable ambiguity
II to that neglect Of this caution has involved
Harrison end Grant Gas quoted by hm) in The verb
in the rses read is in my opinion, passive but
neute and the idea cannot be expressed BY the active
passive FORM Neither do think that Harrison has the
precise idea when he that it is verb
l. e. denotng progressive imperfect accomplishment
To me the meaning is the verses sound well they are
handsomely written, without any reference progression.
Again must insist upon recognition Of material DIFF
ference between the active and passive verb voice. Ha
rson says we the partcple in ed both actively and
passively as, haze loved; am oved. If the
passive form in ed be used actively and passve the
tive FORM the grounds be used passivey and
lively" 1t appears that there is Of precision
here ls The paricipe in ed is used actively and pasvey
as haze bved; am Oved. Here is paricple at ALL
but active verb, in the indicative mood perfect tense
and passive verb indicative, present Precisely parallel
are many examples Of the perfect partcple, given
by grammarians; "he has instructed me. Murray.
"He has concealed dagger under his cloak"B. If this
is not the proper vew these not verbs in conirads-
tncon from participates then have passive verb in our
language and but very few notifications of the active verb
hold that active verb is actiu from the present tense
dcatve mood to the future compound perfect particpe
hold oo that the perfect particpe is always passive,
belonging to the active voice. and should be transferred the
passive exclusively 3D. If he by the passive form
ed in the second sentence quoted the passive payticp
think have shown that there is parcpe in the II
he any thing else, must acknowledge that do moi
see what il is.
2. The ,cant Of precise ideas to time We have SO
many epses in the of verbs tina. we are constantly
liable to by considering epcal perfect ones
In the first place let define the present parcpls. /,
"sgnfes imperfect action, action begun and not end
ed."-Muray. GAS being continued, but not ended
Kkham. Expresses what is now taking place. but no,
finished. Smith "Impes the continuance Of action or
state "-ButAr. The present participe in ing always
expresses an action suffering Of action or the being
state or condition Of thing continuing progressive
The present pacpe Of the active voice has active sgni.
fcation, James IS building house In many Of these,
however, has passive Specification, the house oas build
ing when the ,oaH eA" The present pacple passive has
only passive Specification, and nmaes the present condi-
ton Of an act completed but in prsgresshus,
he arrangements being made, he is ready proceed"
In this sentence the arrangements evidently considered
completed. To represent them progress we would
say thus: "Whs the arrangements making his super
ntendence is Indispensable" using the pacple making in
the passive sense-B. In looking these definitions
we find very marked coincidence in except Even
he in part with the others and cannot but suspect
that his agreement would have been perfect but for that ugly
phrase house is being built" But Harrison says be-
sides, built buided implies thing Effected an action ac-
complained whereas being implies something continuously
present. or continuous condition. Where verb denotes
continuous action, being may properly be applied i.
consentsneous with the action of the verb being feared il
expressive Of continuous condition but house is either
bih or not built Being bull includes incompatible terms
progression and accomplishment combines perfect and
imperfect action" DR.. Beatie says: " One Of
the greatest defects in the English tongue with regard to the
verb be the want Of imperfect passive parcpe"
II to that the idea Of ncompatiby between being
and bull in the above quotation s without any sufficient foun-
daion. If there in fact incompabiy il surely cannot
be confined to the verb build We have the same form in
all present passive partcples In the conjugaon Of all
passive VERBS the auxiliary be is infected through all the
moods and lenses whilst the psrticpal portion remains un-
changed throughout Hence being bull is the regular pre-
49, -