Tuesday, August 16, 2011

CONVERSION:

conversion
The process by which a word from one word class is used as if it belonged to another class. For example, glue started life as a noun, but is now frequently used as a verb. Many conversions are so common that we no longer notice them, but conversion is also a feature of creative uses of language:
‘I really have some severe doubts regarding this partnership,’ said he, upping and awaying.
It is often said that ‘there is no noun in English that can't be verbed’. (Tom McArthur)

No comments:

Post a Comment