Hi,
I'm new to this forum and this site. I'm an A level English language student and would appreciate some help from more authoritative linguists (e.g. teachers)
My query:
Is "running" a gerund functioning as the direct object of "go" in the phrase "go running"? But, in order for this to be true, "go" would be a transitive verb, which doesn't seem right. So, could it be an adverb, clarifying how the subject is going, i.e. he/ she is going by running? On the third hand, could it simply be the present participle in the continuous aspect as an alternative to the usual "I am running". Is it something else altogether?
As you can see I'm confused, so I'd really like some clarification!
Grammatical function of "running" in "go running"
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nigunto
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Alan
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Re: Grammatical function of "running" in "go running"
Your confusion is understandable!
In expressions such as 'go (running/shopping/fishing, etc.)' , the -ing form is indeed a gerund and is the object of an obligatorily ellipted preposition (that is to say, it was originally 'go FOR running, etc.').
Obligatory ellipsis of prepositions occurs in a number of other cases, e.g. 'next Tuesday' instead of *on next Tuesday or 'every month' instead of *in every month.
In expressions such as 'go (running/shopping/fishing, etc.)' , the -ing form is indeed a gerund and is the object of an obligatorily ellipted preposition (that is to say, it was originally 'go FOR running, etc.').
Obligatory ellipsis of prepositions occurs in a number of other cases, e.g. 'next Tuesday' instead of *on next Tuesday or 'every month' instead of *in every month.