Conversation started Mar 20, 2016 at 0:58.
Man_From_India
Man_From_India
Mar 20, 2016 00:58
This is in reference to an ELL question. I am aware of double ing rule, but still in COCA I found sentdnces like "going dancing, getting irritating" etc. Wondering if they are wrong, or exceptions of the rule?
1
Q: is it grammatically correct? two -ing words together

hellodear The situation was going irritating at that time. I am starting eating my breakfast now. Are these statements correct? Can I use two -ing words together? Can you explain by giving few more examples?

grammar
Anonymous
Mar 20, 2016 01:23
@Man_From_India The double -ing constraint is more nuanced than something as simple as "you cannot have two forms ending in -ing that are linearly adjacent".
Anonymous
See: Gerund participles and head-complement inflection conditions (Pullum & Zwicky 1999)
Anonymous
I'll quote examples 3a and 3b:
Anonymous
> 3a. Terry was enjoying reading aloud.
Anonymous
> 3b. *Terry was starting reading aloud.
Anonymous
The simple rule described above (or maybe in simpler words, "you can't put two -ing words together") fails to account for this sort of contrast.
Anonymous
Mar 20, 2016 01:27
In fact, the rule fails all the time if you put it that way.
Anonymous
And yet there are clearly sentences that (at least, for most speakers) are not acceptable:
Anonymous
> Terry started to read aloud.
> Terry was starting to read aloud.
> Terry started reading aloud.
> *Terry was starting reading aloud.
Anonymous
I suggest reading the paper.
Anonymous
(The actual rule is given on page 269.)
 
Conversation ended Mar 20, 2016 at 1:30.