How to parse. ...

Par. 4IO.] USED ABSOLUTELY.

237

dropped out, so that some of them have almost the
force of Prepositions: -
Regular Construction. (1) " Concerninq you the decision
is as follows."
Irregular,,.. (1) " We talked for some time concerning the arrangements."
Regular,,.. (2) " Considering the circumstances,
I do not tlink him to blame."
Irregular,.. (2) " Considerig the circumstances,
it was thouglht that he was
not to blame."
Respecting, regarding, and touching are thus used.
More rarely we have -
(3) " Talking of books, here is a very rare book."
(4) "Judging from his own behaviour, lie cannot be
a desirable companion."
(5) " Granting that you are right, what do you infer
from this "
(6) "Assuming that he is guilty, what ought to be
done l"
40O In most of such cases the Infinitive might be substituted for the Participle; and it is possible that
the old sound of the Infinitive " talken" being like
the sound of "talking," may have facilitated the
introduction of the latter: but it is more probable
that the direct cause of the construction is (a) the
frequent use of the Participle regularly, and (b) its
retention when the Pronoun is changed: —
(a) " Talking of books, I must tell you, &c."
(b) " Talking of books, there is a very fine copy
of," &c.
1 Here " concerning " may be said to qualify " decision."