How to parse. ...

Par. 594, 595.] PARTICIPLE, VERBAL.

325

omitted, but "the" is inserted, indicating the Noun
nature of the word:
"Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it."
594 5. Further, to such an extent had the Verbal
Noun encroached under the Participial mask, that
we not only have the legitimate uses " a ridingwhip," "a walking-stick," but also in Shakspeare
and Bacon:
"A trembling contribution," i.e. "a contribution that
has to do with trembling."
" The loading side," i.e. "the side that has to do with
loading."
These and other idioms give the impression that the
Active Participle may be Passively used, e.g. that "loading" is put for " laden;" and perhaps this in part explains
the apparent use of " seeing" for "it being seen; " " providing" for "it being provided;" "considering" for "it
being considered."
595 The modern result of all these confusions is
this: our modern Participle often represents a latent
Verbal Noun and an omitted Preposition, and is
therefore used where, in strictness, a Participle
could not be used: —
(1) "I shall go (a-) fishing."
(2) "The kettle is (a-) boiling."
(3) (Perhaps) " I saw him (a-) walking."