Anyone find the use of "being + past participle" strangely amusing?

hatrickpatrick · 29-11-2014 08:34PM #1

This will sound ridiculous, but the more I think of it, the more I can't help getting a good giggle out of this particular grammatical form. Perhaps it stems from the overall ridiculousness of that "we're being bugged" scene in Father Ted?

In all seriousness though, does this form strike anyone else as a little bizarre, when you stop and think about it? To talk about something which is happening now, by using a present tense followed by a past participle? Do other languages do the same or is this an English oddity?

catallus · 29-11-2014 08:38PM

What you talkin' 'bout Willis?

That sort of thing?

hatrickpatrick · 29-11-2014 08:59PM

I'm thinking more along the lines of how someone is "being attacked", a country is "being invaded", a dog is "being humped", that kind of thing.

catallus · 29-11-2014 09:04PM

Yes. I see now. That's hysterical, hatrick.

What else do you find funny, btw?

hatrickpatrick · 29-11-2014 09:08PM

catallus wrote: »

Yes. I see now. That's hysterical, hatrick.

What else do you find funny, btw?

Far, far too many things.

:pac:

pickarooney · 30-11-2014 07:39AM

You'll absolutely lose it when you consider the past participle is used with the future and conditional tenses. Nostradamus like.

tac foley · 30-11-2014 08:26PM

I would have liked not to have been thinking about reading this thread in the future.

tac

Anyone find the use of "being + past participle" strangely amusing?

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