But happening it is.
"Yes. It was easy in the past to give way to British exceptionalism - the fascists never took hold here, etc. Perhaps even other member states of the EU are a bit shocked at what has happened here. But happening it is."
(From The Guardian readers' forum.)
Is happening it a subject in the sentence But happening it is?
I think that the verb is is a linking verb in But happening it is and some sort of suspension is an implied complement in that sentence. My second question is: what does that implied complement refer to (in the context of the cited passage)?
My third question is: is my line of thinking incorrect because the verb is (a stative one) in But happening it is is devoid of any complement?
Top answer
It's a rearranged way of writing "But it is happening" (present progressive verb tense). Bringing the word "happening" to the front gives it extra emphasis.
- It's a rearranged way of writing "But it is happening" (present progressive verb tense).
- Bringing the word "happening" to the front gives it extra emphasis.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
It's a rearranged way of writing "But it is happening" (present progressive verb tense). Bringing the word "happening" to the front gives it extra emphasis.
0But happening it is.
No, it's not a linking verb, but progressive 'be'.
This is an example of preposing, where the complement of "is", i.e. the verb "happening", has been preposed to a position in front of the subject "it".
The 'basic' order would be "But it is happening".
Preposed complements typically serve as a link to the preceding discourse, and must be clos
0
Related Questions