why is it called a BUILDING if it is already built?

Answer 1

because no matter what it's always going to keep getting built. repairs... ect... they're always building!

Answer 2

Because the building never stopped getting built. The people inside are constantly shaping up the building. Illogical but makes sense.

Answer 3

word building has 4 meanings.
word build has 8 meanings one of them is to construct.
The oldest use Building "a structure" is used from 1297.
Well-built in reference to a woman is from 1871.
But we can not say that we build the woman lol.

Answer 4

Your question is commonly tossed out simply as a joke to which the only answer can be "English sure is screwy!"

But if you are interested in the real explanation for this word, here goes:

"Building" meaning the OBJECT, and "Building" meaning the PROCESS (or ACTION) are two distinct words, with separate histories. The "ing" suffixes were originally different.

The origins of the forms:

The NOUN form -- in Old English, the suffix -ung (sometimes -ing) was often used to create nouns. This exact ending is still seen in German nouns that end with -ung. The noun can relate to the original verb ("build") in several ways. Often it refers to something that is the RESULT of the process the verb refers to.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/-ung
http://www.tu-chemnitz.de/phil/english/chairs/linguist/real/independent/eafrica/Diss_Diana/dissch4-3.htm

There are MANY examples of such words in Modern English. Consider the following houns which refer to objects which, like "building", are ordinarily NOT "in process" when we speak of them:
painting, dwelling, saying, writing, gathering, bedding, roofing, sacking, clothing, earnings

(There are other, related ways, that Old English formed nouns from verb roots. One of these is the suffix -(at)ion, such as: decision, isolation, explanation. Another is -ment: establishment.)


The VERB form (describing the process) -- in Old English, participles ended with -ende (a form still found in German).

In Middle English these forms fell together. That is, both the participle and noun ends became "-ing". In fact, the use of this form in expressions like "the building of" is a LATE development (whereas "building" as an object is a very old sort of form).
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=261832


For the distinction in the suffixes, see Webster's (1913)
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=261832

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Note that it is actually quite common for suffixes that look exactly the same to be used in different parts of a language to carry out different functions. This is not usually a problem and should not confuse speakers because the WAY the forms are used in sentences makes it clear which form is meant. Examples:

-(e)r -- turns a verb into a agentive noun ("maker", "hitter")
OR for the comparative form of an adjective ("bigger")

-(e)s -- a singular present tense verb ending [originally -eth, as in King James "cometh] ("he hits")
OR to make a plural noun form ("hits")
OR (with an apostrophe) to form a possessive

-(e)st -- old ending for verb forms (2nd singular) such as "thou makest"
OR for superlative of adjectives ("finest")

-y -- to form a diminutive ("Timmy")
OR to form adjectives from nouns ("funny")


http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/L-ing-guistics-177534.html

Answer 5

It's like a dwelling. Or scaffolding. Or someone's teachings or learnings. I have a yearning to stop now! I have to look at my finished painting!

Answer 6

For the same reason they are called "apartments" when they are all together. Or that we park on a driveway yet drive on a parkway.

English is strange. Bough, cough, and rough SHOULD rhyme...

Answer 7

Because they are still looking for a better name. Any ideas? ;-)
Like 'Built'?

Answer 8

I heartily agree. And why is it called a "runway" when no one actually runs on it. Shouldn't it be called a "planes-go-really-fast-and-take-off way?"

(In Jerry Seinfeld voice-->) Who are these people?

Answer 9

Building can be both a verb and a noun.

Answer 10

I agree with Zaxraider