Duffley (English language and linguistics, Laval U., Quebec) tackles the challenge of explaining the English suffix -ing which, though generally treated as the progressive verb form expressing ongoing action, can also express completed action. The study attempts to characterize the semantic structure corresponding to the -ing form, on the hypothesis that the semiological principal posited by cognitive grammar can be applied to this linguistic sign. By contrasting the gerund-participle with the to infinitive throughout the text, the author is able to isolate what each brings to an otherwise constant linguistic environment and develop a plausible hypotheses as to the gerund-participle's meaning. Portions of the text have been previously published as articles in scholarly journals between 1994 and 2004. For linguistics scholars and students, and ESL teachers. Annotation 2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
