On the English Participle in ing.
When the English Participle in ing comes after a Verb of motion with the Preposition a before it, we use the corresponding substantive, instead of the Verb, though sometimes the latter.
- He who goes a hunting
- quello che andáre caccia
- or visiting his friends,
- [1] visitáre amíco
- when business requires
- quando affáre richiédere
- his care and time,
- cura tempo
- shows
- mostráre
- by his conduct
- condótta
- that he prefers
- [2]preferíre
- his diversion before
- divertiménto
- his profit,
- profítto
- the company of his friends
- compagnía amíco
- before the advantage
- vantággio
- of his family.
- famíglia.
- The boy who
- ragázzo
- goes a playing
- andáre giuocáre
- with his school-fellows,
- condiscepolo
- when he ought to be
- quando dovére éssere
- diligently employed
- diligéntemente intórno
- at the task
- a lavoro
- his master gave him,
- maéstro assegnare
- evinces,
- prováre
- by his neglect,
- negligénza
- that he prefers play to
- preferíre giuóco
- his master’s love,
- maéstro affétto
- and his own profit.
- profítto.
[1] Ibid. p. 201, on verbs of motion.
[2] Preferisce il divertimento al profitto, la compagnia degli amici al, &c.
The English Participle in ing, after from, must be put in Italian in the Infinitive with the Preposition di.
- The providence of God
- provvidenza Dio
- keeps us from perishing;
- impedíre períre
- the power of God
- poténza Dio
- hinders us from doing
- impedíre fare
- those things
- cosa
- which displease him;
- dispiacére
- the grace of God
- grazia Dio
- prevents us from sinning;
- impedíre peccáre
- the goodness of God
- bontà
- preserves us from suffering
- preserváre soffríre
- afflictions.
- afflizióne.
The English Participle in ing after a Verb importing to cease, to leave, or to go over, must be rendered in Italian by the Infinitive mood with the Preposition di.
- He who
- quello che
- leaves off doing
- cessáre fare
- praise-worthy actions,
- lodévole azióne
- and plunges into vice,
- immergérsi vízio
- was never truly good.
- éssere mai veraménte buono.
- A wise man
- sávio uómo
- never leaves off learning
- mai tralasciáre imparáre
- whilst he lives;
- finchè vivere
- for he who has great wisdom,
- perchè è dotato di grande sapere
- has still need of
- ancora bisógno
- more knowledge.
- maggiore conoscènza.
When the Participle in ing follows the auxiliary Verb to be, this verb must be left out, and the Italian Verb that represents the Participle, must be put in the same tense, number, and person as the auxiliary is.
- A diligent boy
- diligénte ragázzo
- is always learning,
- sempre studiare
- not only while
- non solaménte mentre
- the master is instructing,
- maéstro istruíre
- but also while
- ma anche
- other boys are playing.
- altro ragázzo giuocáre.
- Apelles was
- Apélle
- daily drawing
- ogni giórno dipingere
- some excellent pictures
- eccellénte pittúra
- with wonderful art;
- maraviglióso arte
- no day passed
- nessúno giórno passáre
- without a line.
- senza linéa.
- Those who
- do not employ their time well
- impiegáre bene tempo
- in the beginning of their lives,
- [1] princípio vita
- will be perpetually lamenting
- perpetuamente piangere
- their folly;
- pazzia
- they will be incessantly condemning
- ad ogni moménto condannársi
- themselves, and
- saying, Ah!
- díre Ah!
- at what a price
- prezzo
- would I not purchase
- compráre
- the time past!
- tempo passato!
[1] In the beginning of their lives; i. e. nella loro gioventù.