Building on Goldberg’s (2006: 52) observation regarding the existence of “a family of related constructions in English” centred around the verb go, this article explores the history of the construction exemplified in the title (“Don’t go getting into trouble again!”) and its relation to other… read more
This paper examines the history of the ACC-ing gerundive, a subtype of verbal gerund differing formally from both bare gerundives (I enjoyed reading the paper) and POSS-ing gerundives (I was surprised at Jane’s arriving late) in having an overt subject argument either in the common case, if it is… read more
This study examines two types of -ing subjects in English: the Late Modern English pattern the deceiving him was easy and constructions such as by trying to make her mother happy
proved unlucky for Paul, which are becoming frequent among American undergraduates. It is argued that the presence… read more
This paper examines the process whereby the English gerund, originally an abstract deverbal noun of action, was reinterpreted as part of the verb system and acquired verbal properties, such as the ability to govern a direct object (e.g., by writing a letter). The analysis of the data reveals that… read more
SUMMARY The article offers an analysis of the development of the gerund, as an alternative to the infinitive, with verbs of subject control, such as attempt, bear, decline, forbear, etc. In the course of the early Modern English period, and particularly during the first half of the 18th century,… read more