John,

This is sometimes called the "passival," where the subject of certain active verbs can be used in the progressive as a kind of passive. Other examples:

The passival was formerly in general use (The house is building) but is now restricted to a few verbs.

I don't think "growing" is an example of this, since the verb has both transitive and intransitive definitions.

Dick

On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 7:23 AM, John Crow <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
What's up with the following pair of sentences?
  1. The Smiths are selling their furniture.
  2. The plants are selling like hotcakes.
  • #1 is obviously a standard present progressive SVO.  Is #2 just an intransitive form of "to sell"? 
  • Are there other examples like this or is this idiosyncratic to "sell"?

Just thought of another possible candidate:

  • John is growing cauliflower.
  • The cauliflower is growing bigger every day.

Thanks,

John

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