Re: USAGE: 'born'

on 5/11/01 11:32, J Matthew Pearson at pearson@HUMNET.UCLA.EDU wrote:

> David Peterson wrote:
>
>> In a message dated 5/9/01 10:00:58 PM, dnsulani@INTER.NET.IL writes:
>>
>> << "Phonix is a boomtown where nearly a quarter
>>
>> of the children live in poverty.
>>
>> If there's any one thing that distinguishes Phoenix,
>>
>> it's that the city is still becoming. There may be arguments
>>
>> as to what it's becoming..." >>
>>
>> This only proves my argument, that "becoming" is supposed to mean
>> "attractive", and that they're using that word to form a pun.  How could
>> anyone possibly think that "becoming" is being used seriously as a verb?!
>> There's absolutely no way!
>
> I disagree.  I'm a native English speaker, and I wouldn't think twice about
> the
> author's use of "becoming" as a verb (in the sense of "changing").  The
> possibility that it might be a pun would never have occurred to me in a
> million
> years.
>
> Matt.
I would use 'becoming' as a verb, but never in that situation.

'... is still becoming.'  Is very awkward.

'... is still becoming [noun or adjective here].'  Works just fine.

There has to be something in the blank or else it is _very_ awkward to my
ear.


andy.

adchaney@louisiana.edu
http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~adc7593/