New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-29
THE GRAMMARIANS CONTROVERSY.
Us BUILDING" AND rs BEING BUILr"-AN ARGU
SIENT FOR THE OLDER FORM.
T. N of

Us BUILDING" AND rs BEING BUILr"-AN ARGU-
DIENT FOR THE OLDER FORM.
TO the Editor Of The Trt6une.
SIR: | have beer curlously interested in a
discussion going on in your columns the prOpriey
OF using the present active particple OF the ranstyc
verb IN the passive sense-for example, "buding" for
being built" and making" for 81 being made" am
quite aware that some newspapers exclude "being
built" as unnecessary and vicious but am not pre-
pared accept their authority settling the question
even though supported all the ceyerness and acumen
that Mr. Grant White puts into his philoog
cal issues On the other hand, with due respect to all
the parties building" for "beng built seems 10 me
TO be papable sin. II you please, against
structure aud accuracy OF construction If not against
syntax.
For illustration the instance Of the verb build
the following nfnitive forms:
Aespe Pdssv<
To have built. To have been built
About ~ build. About to be built
These forms confessedly necessary and legitimate
necessary in that the proper distinction between the
active voice and the passive cannot be expressed with
them; legitimate in that they are structuray and
logically preserving the distinction they pre-
tend to express In like the partcipal forms
preserve distinction growing out Of the very nature OF
the two voices:
Acirs. Pnssre
Having bull. Having been bun
Now can see reason for excluding the pres
passive partcple than Tor excluding the present
passive intintiye, for the former be con-
strued actively without naccuracy Of structure the
They stand tor fall together forms
OF the transitve verb When 1 say that the house is
building TOR being bul as Inc Xoraby call for OBJ
ject what the house Is building, though
had said 81 am building" in which the reader
would ask "What are You buldingp so it is through
heSwhole list OF transve verbs. The active form calls
for object to complete the structure aud unless
object responds the force OF the verb left unsatised
Nor is this law OF the transtive verb in the least
weakened by the progressive form, which OF
necessity preserve the distinction. For example Jake
the present tense Indicative, IN its two forms:
ProJress,vs Active Progressive Passive.
am building house, house Is being built by
Thou art building house, house being built by
He building house. house Is being built b. hin.
that being built Is at all awkward at such
junctures. though such msIto be the impression
sundry quarters but II 1t 49, It is better In any
De awkward than Inaccurate although 1t be better
still to avoid both awkwardness and naccuracy by using
other construction Indeed II IL Is then all passive
forms Of the verb awkward, and should bs az
and forever abandoned. II there Is any ground for
amputsting the special form TO which Mr.. White
cepts then there is ground for looping of the passive
upon grammatical principles, for Mr. White is hear,
believer in grammars, and votes syntax aD0mina-
ton. simply insist on those common structural prn-
cipes that determine the growth OF grammatical forms
and enable men 70 say what they mean in the most
direct and accurate terms. FRANCIS GERRY FAIRFIELD.
stafford Springs, Conn, July Is, 1874