I never really understood grammar until I was into my fourth language.
Not that I am fluent in any of the languages (some even wonder about my Englishing abilities).
A noun is a thing – more than an action. You can attach words to a noun to describe the word further. And you can string nouns together with little words that help you know if one word is attached to another word, or if you are comparing things. And you add little squiggles to help you know if you need to pause, or continue with caution in your reading.
Now then, there is the verb. An action word that derives from other words. Sometimes a verb is just a word that stands by itself.
In strict adherence to grammar rules, the grammarian becomes agitated over crossing lines that have stood the test of time. Often this refers to nouns becoming verbs.
Or more rightly, proper nouns (what we might call trademark words or phrases) becoming verbs.
All that to say, I’m still trying to figure out what “COVIDING” means. I get the noun – we have pictures of COVID19 and scientific descriptions. We sort of know what the noun is.
But Coviding? Is that related to mental health issues? Or perhaps systemic racism? Does this verb conjure up climate change? Are we talking about health regulations? Maybe this is about survival food preparations in the midst of quarantine?
Seems to me that when you are Coviding, there is very little to do with a virus and or the mutated state of that virus. Rather, I sense we are talking about the effect and not the noun.
I can live with that – I would just like someone to define what we are talking about!