A + verb (no gerund)
Jamaican dialect usage
Origin
Old English pronoun + verb.
Eg.
We a-walking to school. Reminiscent of Shakespeare's stylistic poetry.
(Extract from an Appalachian English song)
On the Seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me. Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying.
(Extract from a nursery rhyme ca. 1905)
I saw the ship a-sailing, a-sailing on the sea, and oh!It was all laden, with pretty things for thee!
Influenced modern day Patois slang.
This usage fell into disuse in modern English and is now regional or dialectal. A similarity in usage can be noted in the European Portuguese language structure.
Origin
Old English pronoun + verb.
Eg.
We a-walking to school. Reminiscent of Shakespeare's stylistic poetry.
(Extract from an Appalachian English song)
On the Seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me. Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying.
(Extract from a nursery rhyme ca. 1905)
I saw the ship a-sailing, a-sailing on the sea, and oh!It was all laden, with pretty things for thee!
Influenced modern day Patois slang.
This usage fell into disuse in modern English and is now regional or dialectal. A similarity in usage can be noted in the European Portuguese language structure.
A + verb (no gerund) by Tropical Rythms December 9, 2021
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