Why is it called a "building" when it is already built?

I understand some toss this out as a joke, others as a "proof" of how odd English is. But I'll assume some may be interested in knowing WHY this happens... and that English is NOT so very odd in this matter. So, here's the deal . . .

Both forms are created from the same root verb, "build", but with suffixes that were originally different.

"Building" as a simple noun meaning the OBJECT that results from an action, and "Building" as a word meaning the PROCESS of the action have separate histories. The "ing" suffixes were originally different... and, for that matter, the one referring to the OBJECT is the OLDER form.

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/ling...

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 creates 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 ("ten hits")

OR (with an apostrophe) to form a possessive ("John's book")

-(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-guisti...

Because the word 'building' can be either a noun (naming word) or a verb (doing word). When the term 'building' is used in the context, 'she is building it', then the word is a verb. An action is happening. When it is used in the context, 'look at that building', the word is a (common) noun. It's the name of something. This means that the meaning of the word 'building' is context dependent, therefore there isn't a relation between the noun and verb form. Hence, the fact a building has already been built has absolutely nothing to do with its name.

i don't know that but i can tell you why a bungalow is so called. once some guys were building a house but when they had only built the ground floor they ran out of bricks, so they had to bung a low roof on it.

a building is built then once its built it is a building and why is it call raising a building when its knocked down

Maybe because a "building" is still a work in progress.

Why are APARTments called apartments, when they are so close together?? Why is it called CARGO,when it's transported in a SHIP?? Why is it called SHIPment, when it's delivered in a CAR??

Because someone was building it??? =)

good question. havent a clue though

Good question, makes you think. A star for thinking that one up !! **************

coz built sounds stupid