why is building called a building as it is already build?

Answer 1

"Building" meaning the OBJECT, and "Building" meaning the PROCESS have 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 -- 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 2

In Old English etymology (history of linguistic form), the suffix -ing was used not only to form the present participle, but also as a noun suffix to denote, among other things: 1) an action or process (for example, the process of building or painting); 2) a product or result of an action or process (for example, a building or a painting).

Answer 3

The word 'building' has two meanings. One of them is a structure that is already constructed, and the second is the process of a structure under construction.
So when you refer to a completed structure, you call it a building. When a structure is not completed, it is still being built.

Answer 4

I have to add that a painting is also called a painting even though it is already painted. But why do you park your car in a driveway and speed down the road on a parkway?

Answer 5

Why do doctors called what they do practice, they've already graduated from med school?
The English language is often contradicting and confusing.

Answer 6

because it already went through the process of being built...

Answer 7

On the inside, there is still new stuff going on. hence the ing

Answer 8

Because it is responsible for builing our lives!!

Hope this solved your question.

Regards,
Praveen Kumar

Answer 9

Because creativity never stops!!!

Answer 10

because it is already built.