Job Discussion Forums

it'snotmyfault · Joined: 14 May 2012 Posts: 527

One of the students asked me today, why can I say:

"The meal is cooking" but can't say "the house is building".

As in the house is being built. I said I'd find out for sure and get back to her.

After a quick look in Swan I haven't found a suitable answer.

PC Parrot · Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 1:52 pm Post subject:

For the verb to cook, the desired meaning is carried by both the transitive & intransitive verb ..

For the verb to build, the desired meaning is carried by the transitive verb only ..

Well, that's what my mum used to tell me ..

Mike_2007 · Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 349 Location: Bucharest, Romania

I would say because a meal, once put in the oven or on the hob, will itself 'cook' (change from a state of being uncooked to one of being cooked) so the verb can have an intransitive meaning. A house is unlikely to build itself wherever you happen to put it. It needs to be built by someone and so the verb, in this context, only makes sense as a transitive verb. However, you could say something like 'the tension is building' because again, like the cooking, the tension can increase as a result of the situation, rather than the direct interference of the third party.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If he doesn't get either of those responses, ask your student.

You can say the engine is running (by itself), but (ask him...) can you say the car is driving? Let him think and picture what is needed to do the driving.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:28 pm Post subject:

... and to totally confuse him, ask him about the difference between 'The pilot is landing the plane' and 'The plane is landing.'

it'snotmyfault · Joined: 14 May 2012 Posts: 527

Thank you for the replies.

I really need to swat up on my grammar Embarassed

vabeckele · Joined: 19 Nov 2010 Posts: 439

This is what I'm talking about.

I'm a dumb-ass, but this is fun to read and learn.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:01 pm Post subject:

Look up the terms 'transitivity' and 'ergativity'. Should help to clear things up in your head, and then that of the learner : )

fluffyhamster · Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 8:15 pm Post subject:

Tell her the problem is with her command of articles and prefixes. What she meant to say of course was A house is a-building.