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I couldn't think what to call it and still can't. "Conversion" refers to the element in "afire", "abed": converting noun "fire", "bed" to an adjective. In the case of "I'm wooing" vs "I'm a-wooing" there's no such conversion: they're both progressive tenses.
It's hard to get a feel for the difference because we (or most of us) no longer use it. See if this feels right: the "a-" forms an intransitive, naming just the activity of the verb, without a specific object. (In this case it would be conversive of transitivity.)
"Froggy goes a-wooing" vs "Froggy goes wooing the widow next door"
"Papa is a-hunting" vs "Papa is hunting woodsnipe"
But I don't know, and you might well find counterexamples. Just an idea.
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted ![]()
interesting construction
wwh 08/23/01 01:40 AM ![]()
Re: interesting construction
Faldage 08/23/01 12:25 PM ![]()
Re: interesting construction
WhitmanO'Neill 08/24/01 03:04 AM ![]()
Re: interesting construction
Bobyoungbalt 08/23/01 07:00 PM ![]()
Actually®
Faldage 08/23/01 07:03 PM ![]()
Re: Actually®
Keiva 08/23/01 08:01 PM ![]()
Am I the onliest one
Faldage 08/23/01 08:12 PM ![]()
Re: Am I the onliest one
wwh 08/23/01 08:37 PM ![]()
Re: Am I the onliest one
Keiva 08/23/01 11:11 PM ![]()
Re: The Old English prefix a-
Faldage 08/24/01 11:56 AM ![]()
Re: interesting construction
Bingley 08/24/01 04:55 AM ![]()
Re: interesting construction
NicholasW 08/24/01 07:44 AM ![]()
Re: interesting construction
of troy 08/24/01 12:08 PM ![]()
Re: Froggy went
Faldage 08/24/01 01:03 PM ![]()
Re: interesting construction
Flatlander 08/24/01 01:34 PM ![]()
Wooing (courting ) Froggy
Bobyoungbalt 08/24/01 02:52 PM ![]()
Re: Wooing (courting ) Froggy
of troy 08/24/01 03:21 PM ![]()
Re: interesting construction
TEd Remington 08/24/01 03:39 PM
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