"
2. Active and neuter verbs may be conjugated by adding their present
participle to the auxiliary verb _to be_, through all its
variations; as, instead of, I teach, thou teachest, he teaches, &c.,
we may say, I am teaching, thou art teaching, he is teaching, &c.;
and, instead of, I taught, &c.; I was teaching, &c. This mode of
conjugation expresses the continuation of an action or state of
being; and has, on some occasions, a peculiar propriety, and
contributes to the harmony and precision of language. When the
present participle of an active verb is joined with the neuter verb
to be, the two words united, are, by some grammarians, denominated
an active verb, either transitive or intransitive, as the case may
be; as, "I am writing a letter; He is walking:" and when the present
participle of a neuter verb is thus employed, they term the
combination a neuter verb; as, "I am sitting; He is standing."
Others, in constructions like these, parse each word separately.
Either mode may be adopted.
* * * * *
III.
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