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KatiMorton Posted 12 years ago
Why do you say:
The train is a coming?
What's the 'a' here mean? unspecified one?
Grammar
the article 'a'
Why do you say:
The train is a coming?
What's the 'a' here mean? unspecified one?
Top answer
This prefix (before the -ing form of some verbs) comes from historical English, a meaning loosely translated as extended or ongoing action. It persisted in some dialects of American English, particularly in the south and Appalachian mountains. com/a - You will hear it in old songs and poems, like the first line of this one:
- This prefix (before the -ing form of some verbs) comes from historical English, a meaning loosely translated as extended or ongoing action.
- It persisted in some dialects of American English, particularly in the south and Appalachian mountains.
- com/a - You will hear it in old songs and poems, like the first line of this one:
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1 Answers
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This prefix (before the -ing form of some verbs) comes from historical English, a meaning loosely translated as extended or ongoing action. It persisted in some dialects of American English, particularly in the south and Appalachian mountains.
See "Our Living Language" note here: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
See "Our Living Language" note here: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
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