Il participio presente nelle grammatiche della lingua italiana: le forme uscenti in -ente/-iente
The Italian Participio Presente in Grammar Books: Verb Forms Ending in -ente and -iente

Summary/Abstract: This article aims to examine how Italian-language grammar books deal with the morphology of the participio presente (PP), with particular attention to verb forms of the third inflexional paradigm ending in -iente (e.g., conveniente) or that alternate the endings -iente and -ente (e.g., dormiente/dormente). In total, more than 60 grammar books were analysed and divided into three categories: 1) volumes published between the 16th and 19th centuries (it is a diachronic perspective on the issue of the PP); 2) volumes published in the 20th and 21st centuries; 3) grammar books for foreign language learners. The analyses reveal that the authors of the grammar books taken into consideration demonstrate little interest in the morphology of the PP, especially regarding the forms ending in -iente/-ente, which are less prominent over the centuries to give space to issues related to the function of the PP. Grammar books for foreigners are even less attentive, often completely neglecting the PP or providing a summary and incomplete information.

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