A chasing

Question

You've just chased a car like a policeman. You get out of your car and saying which one? 1. That was a good chase.2. That was a good chasing.If only #1 is correct, then when would you use 'a chasing'?

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

onizoIf only #1 is correct, then when would you use 'a chasing'?

I wouldn't.

Chasing a car like a policeman can get you in jail.

Onizo · Answer

Thank you.

But there is a lot examples using 'a chasing of wind' on the web. what does it mean and why not 'a chase of wind'?

Khoff · Answer

I've never heard or seen either "a chase of wind" or "a chasing of wind."  Where are you finding all these examples?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

onizoBut there are a lot examples using 'a chasing of wind' on the web.

All the ones I've googled are references to the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. And the translations have many different wordings. Here is a sampling:
14 I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
14 I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chase after wind.
14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and indeed, all is vanity and like chasing the wind.
14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun. Look at it! It’s all pointless. It’s like trying to catch the wind.

Here is one of the google hits. It's typical:

Many of us eagerly make new year's resolutions that center around our own personal ideas of how to become a "better person", living a "holier life", or self-improvement, but we can never meet our own expectations and will always feel failure. Although these resolutions seem noble, they are a "chasing of wind" (Eccl 6:9). "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." (Proverbs 16:9).

This is a poetic metaphor - useful in sermons, Christian religious songs, and Christian philosophies.
It is not applicable to police chases.

Onizo · Answer

Thank you AlpheccaStars for the detailed examples.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

onizoThank you AlpheccaStars for the detailed examples.

Next time, please post the sentence that contains the phrase and its context with your question. That will save us a lot of time trying to research some random obscure text.

CalifJim · Answer

More often than not, the noun is the same as the verb, and not the verb with -ing.

to hope - a hope (not a hoping)
to catch - a catch (not a catching)
to chase - a chase (not a chasing)
to walk - a walk (not a walking)
to surprise - a surprise (not a surprising)

But many nouns are related to verbs in different ways. You have to learn these separately.

to see - a sight (not a seeing)
to believe - a belief (not a believing)
to move - a movement (not a moving)
to choose - a choice (not a choosing)
to prepare - a preparation (not a preparing)

There are only a few nouns related to verbs by the addition of -ing, so this should be your last choice.

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

CalifJimThere are only a few nouns related to verbs by the addition of -ing, so this should be your last choice.

I could come up with quite a few just off the top of my head.

christen - christening
spank - spanking (also beating)
meet - meeting
set - setting (eg. a place setting)
rumble - rumbling (eg the rumbling of thunder)
seat - seating (eg. the seating in a theater)
hear - hearing (a court hearing)
run - running (eg. the running of the Belmont Stakes)
serve - serving (eg a serving of mashed potatoes)
wire - wiring (the electrical wiring in a house)
Anything related to cleaning:
You do the sweeping, Kim will do the polishing, I'll do the mopping and Gail will do the dusting.

CalifJim · Answer

Well, after that encouraging, I have a thinking that we'll be having many more seeings of random guessings at -ing words.

CJ

Onizo · Answer

CalifJimWell, after that encouraging, I have a thinking that we'll be having many more seeings of random guessings at -ing words. CJ

Thanks and sorry, CJ.

I am just so confused with these ings and don't have the ability how to play with it yet well. And the profession I am in uses excessive ing form words which no one has explained why and how. So I am bit by bit trying to make sense of it, by of course asking so many reapting questions. Belive me I am more frustrated that I add white hair everyday.

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