Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
is
is
isses
issum
ys
MnE this; G dies
MnE this; G diesen,-e, dies
MnE this; G dieses, -er, -es
MnE this; G diesem,-er, -em
P
l
u
r
a
l
N
A
G
D
s
s
issa
issum
MnE those;G diese
MnE those; G diese
G dieser
G diesen
S
i
n
g
u
l
a
r
N
A
G
D
I
s
one
ps
m
y
s
re
re
t
t
s
m
y
MnE the; that; G , , das
MnE regularis.; G den, die, das
MnE regularis.; G des, der, des
MnE regularis.; G dem, der, dem
E
M
O
N
S
T
R
A
T
I
V
E
A
r
t
i
c
l
e
P
l
u
r
a
l
N
A
G
D
ra r ra
m
MnE the; G die
MnE the; G die
MnE the; G der
MnE the; G den
I
N
T
E
R
R
O
G
.
S
i
n
g
u
l
a
r
N
A
G
D
I
hw
hwone
hws
hwm
hwy
hwt
hwt
hws
hwm
hwy
MnE who; what
MnE whom; what
MnE whose
MnE whom
MnE why
SOURCES: Fernand Moss, Manuel de l'anglais du Moyen ge, I.1. Vieil-Anglais, (Ch. VI, Les pronoms , 68-77),
Paris, 1950.
Randolph Quirk, C.L. Wrenn, An Old English Grammar, 63-67, London: Routledge 1993 (
2
1957).
1
Early Modern English
2
By reinforcement *s h>*sh>she; maybe, * h>*>they. The plural is certainly the result of Scandinavian
influence: Sc. ei replaced OE h (cf. AC Baugh & Thomas Cable, A History of the English Language, London: Routledge,
1996 (
4
1993), p. 158.
3
G his up to Renaissance ~1600. Earliest G it's 1597. After ~1800, it's>its (cf. Baugh & Cable, pp. 238-239).
THE OLD ENGLISH NOUN
A. VOCALIC DECLENSION
PARADIGM REMARKS
Stem Gender
Singular Ending Plural Ending
masc. N s stn
A one stn
G s stn-es
D m stn-e
-es
-e
stn-as
stn-as
ra stn-a
m stn-um
-as
-as
-a
-um
< Gmc. *stna-z
short
neut.
N t dl
A t dl
G s dl-es
D m dl-e
-es
-e
dal-u
dal-u
ra dal-a
m dal-um
-u
-u
-a
-um
< Gmc. *dla-z
-
a
-
M
o
s
t
m
a
s
c
u
l
i
n
e
&
n
e
u
t
e
r
n
o
u
n
s
long
neut.
N t word
A t word
G s word-es
D m word-e
-es
-e
word
word
ra word-a
m word-um
-a
-um
< Gmc. *worda-
short
fem.
N s !iefu
A !ief-e
G re !ief-e
D re !ief-e
-e
-e
-e
!ief-a
!ief-a
r !ief-a/ -ena
m !ief-um
-a
-a
-a/-ena
-um
-stem vowel *o > u
present in Nsg
< Gmc. *gebo-
--
long
fem.
N lr
A lr-e
G lr-e
D lr-e
-e
-e
-e
lr-a
lr-a
lr-a/ -ena
lr-um
-a
-a
-a/-ena
-um
< Gmc. *lro
N stede
A stede
G sted-es
D sted-e
-es
-e
stede
stede
sted-a
sted-um
-a
-um
-stem vowel *i > _
present in Nsg
< Gmc. *stai-z
masc.
N !iest
A !iest
G !iest-es
D !iest-e
-es
-e
!iest-as
!iest-as
!iest-a
!iest-um
-as
-as
-a
-um
< Gmc. *gasti-z
N spere
A spere
G sper-es
D sper-e
-es
-e
sper-u
sper-u
sper-a
sper-um
-u
-u
-a
-um
-stem vowel *i > _
present in Nsg
< Gmc. *spari-z
neut.
N !eswin
A !eswin
G !eswin-es
D !eswin-e
-es
-e
!eswin
!eswin
!eswin-a
!eswin-um
-a
-um
OE coinage
-i-
fem. N mht
A mht
G mht-e
D mht-e
-e
-e
mht-a
mht-a
mht-a
mht-um
-a
-a
-a
-um
< Gmc *mahti
masc N sunu
A sunu
G sun-a
D sun-a
-a
-a
sun-a
sun-a
sun-a
sun-um
-a
-a
-a
-um
-u-
fem. N weald
A weald
G weald-a
D weald-a
-a
-a
weald-a
weald-a
weald-a
weald-um
-a
-a
-a
-um
-this class is almost
extinct
ENDINGS
STRONG DECLENSIONS (VOC. & CONS.) -u- STEMS WEAK DECLENSION NUMBER CASE
Masculine Neuter Feminine Masc./Fem. Masculine Neuter Feminine
Singular N -(e) -(e) -(u) -(u) -a -e -e
A -(e) -(e) -(e) -u -an -e -an
G -es -es -e -a -an
D -(e) -e -(e) -a -an
Plural N-A -as/-e -(u) -a -a -an
G -a -a -a/-ena -a -ena
D -um
THE OLD ENGLISH NOUN
B. CONSONANTIC DECLENSION
PARADIGM REMARKS
Stem Gender
Singular Ending Plural Ending
masc. N nam-a
A nam-an
G nam-an
D nam-an
-a
-an
-an
-an
nam-an
nam-an
nam-ena
nam-um
-an
-an
-ena
-um
all masc. ending in
-a belong here
neut. N r-e
A r-e
G r-an
D r-an
-e
-e
-an
-an
r-an
r-an
r-ena
r-um
-an
-an
-ena
-um
-
a
n
-
W
E
A
K
D
E
C
L
E
N
S
I
O
N
fem. N sunn-e
A sunn-an
G sunn-an
D sunn-an
-e
-an
-an
-an
sunn-an
sunn-an
sunn-ena
sunn-um
-an
-an
-ena
-um
all fem. ending in
-e belong here
N ft
A ft
G ft-es
D ft
-es
=>
ft
ft
ft-a
ft-um
=>
=>
-a
-um
masc.
N man(n)
A man(n)
G mann-es
D menn
-es
a=>e
menn
menn
mann-a
mann-um
a=>e
a=>e
-a
-um
S
t
e
m
v
a
r
i
a
t
i
o
n
(
i
-
m
u
t
a
t
i
o
n
)
fem. N bc
A bc
G b
D b
=>
=>
b
b
bc-a
bc-um
=>
=>
-a
-um
- i-mutation
masc. N hle
A hle
G hle-es
D hle-e
-es
-e
hle
hle
hle-a
hle-um
-a
-um
neut. N eal-u
A eal-u
G eal-o
D eal-o
-u
-u
-o
-o
NO PLURAL
--
fem. N m!(e)
A m!(e)
G m!(e)
D m!(e)
-
m!(e)
m!(e)
m!(e)-a
m!(e)-um
-a
-um
only
these
three
words
+ mna
N sieppend
A sieppend
G sieppend-es
D sieppend-e
-es
-e
sieppend-e/-as
sieppend-e/-as
sieppend-ra
sieppend-um
-e/-as
-e/-as
-ra
-um
-nd- masc.
N frnd
A frnd
G frnd-es
D frnd
-es
=>
frnd
frnd
frnd-a
frnd-um
=>
=>
-a
-um
-from. present
participles
-az- neut. N ild
A ild
G ild-es
D ild-e
-es
-e
ild-r-u
ild-r-u
ild-r-a
ild-r-um
-u
-u
-a
-um
*ild-az-u
*ild-ar-u
ild-r-u
-
r
-
k
i
n
s
h
i
p
masc.,
fem.
N fder
A fder
G fder-(es)
D fder
NApl fder-as
Gpl fder-a
Dpl fder-um
-(e)s
-as
-a
-um
bror
bror
bror
brer
bror
brr-a
brr-um
=>
-a
-um
mdor
mdor
mdor
mder
mdor
mdr-a
mdr-um
=>
-a
-um
Sources: Fernand Moss, Manuel de l'anglais du Moyen ge, I.1. Vieil-Anglais, (Ch. V, Le substantif , 43-67), Paris, 1950.
Randolph Quirk, C. L. Wrenn, An Old English Grammar, 24-49, Routledge 1993 (
2
1957).
THE OLD ENGLISH ADJECTIVE
Paradigms Theme Nr. Case
Masculine Endings Neuter Endings Feminine Endings
Sg N
A
G
D
I
gld
gld-ne
glad-es (>a)
glad-um
glad-e
-ne
-es
-um
-e
gld
gld
glad-es (>a)
glad-um
glad-e
-es
-um
-e
glad-u (>a)
glad-e
gld-re
gld-re
-u
-e
-re
-re
Pl N-A
G
D
glad-e
gld-ra
glad-um
-e
-ra
-um
glad-u
gld-ra
glad-um
-u
-ra
-um
glad-a/ glad-e
gld-ra
glad-um
-a/-e
-ra
-um
s
h
o
r
t
m
o
n
o
s
y
l
l
a
b
l
e
s
Also: !dol, fram, gram, hrd, sd, sum, sml, tam, til, trum
!-lic/-sum derivatives, like: heofonlic/ wynsum
Sg N
A
G
D
I
gd
gd-ne
gd-es
gd-um
gd-e
-ne
-es
-um
-e
gd
gd
gd-es
gd-um
gd-e
-es
-um
-e
gd
gd-e
gd-re
gd-re
-e
-re
-re
Pl N-A
G
D
gd-e
gd-ra
gd-um
-e
-ra
-um
gd
gd-ra
gd-um
-ra
-um
gd-a/ gd-e
gd-ra
gd-um
-a/-e
-ra
-um
V
o
c
a
l
i
c
(
s
t
r
o
n
g
)
l
o
n
g
m
o
n
o
s
y
l
l
a
b
l
e
s
Also: !brd, ceald, eall, full, frd, geong, long, wlonc; manig, nacod, open
!-ful(l)/-leas/-fst/-weard derivatives, like: ferhtful, hlfordleas, sfst, heofonweard
DISSYLLABIC ADJECTIVES ARE GENERALLY DECLINED LIKE gd
Sg N
A
G
D
gd-a
gd-an
gd-an
gd-an
-a
-an
-an
-an
gd-e
gd-e
gd-an
gd-an
-e
-e
-an
-an
gd-e
gd-an
gd-an
gd-an
-e
-an
-an
-an
Pl N-A
G
D
gd-an
gd-ra/-ena
gd-um
-an
-ra/-ena
-um
C
o
n
s
o
n
a
n
t
i
c
(
w
e
a
k
)
-
a
n
t
h
e
m
e
Note: THE WEAK DECLENSION EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE VOCALIC THEMES
COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES:
!Declined like the consonantic (weak) theme!
TYPE POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE REMARKS
-ra/-ost earm
gld
earm-ra
gld-ra
earm-ost
glad-ost*
HAS BEEN GENERALISED
-ra/-est brd
eald
feorr
grt
strang
brd-ra
ield-ra
fier-ra
grt-ra
streng-ra
brd-est
ield-est
fierr-est
grt-est
streng-est
Apophony (variation of stem
vowel)
gd bet(e)-ra
sl-ra
bet-(e)st
sl-est
good-better-best
lytel lssa (<*ls-ra) lst little-less-least
micel m-ra mst much-more-most
Suppletive forms
yfel wyrsa wyrst bad/evil-worse-worst
COMPARISON OF ADVERBS:
-or/-ost oft
luflce
oft-or
luflc-or
oft-ost
luflc-ost
Exceptions: lyt
micle
wel
yfle
ls
m
bet/sl
wyrs
lst
mst
betst/slest
wyrst
Sources: Fernand Moss, Manuel de l'anglais du Moyen ge, I.1. Vieil-Anglais, (Ch. VII, L'ajectif , 78-89), Paris, 1950.
Randolph Quirk, C.L. Wrenn, An Old English Grammar, 50-59, Routledge 1993 (
2
1957).
THE OLD ENGLISH VERBAL SYSTEM
!STRONG VERBS
PRESENT GROUP PRETERITE CLASS
Uniform
Gradation
Infinitive Indicative Optative/
Subjunctive
Imperative Gerundive/
Participle
Indicative Optative
PAST
PARTICIPLE
Vocalic I
+ C
--i-i
drfan i drfe
drfst
h/h/hit drf
w/g/h drfa
wit/git
i
drfe
h/h/hit
w/g/h drfen
wit/git
() drf
(g/git)
drfa
drfenne
drfende
i drf
drife
h drf
w/g/h drifon
wit/git
i
drife
h
w/g/h drifen
wit/git
ge-drifen
Vocalic II
+ C
+ C
o--u-o
--u-o
bdan i bde
btst
h/h/hit bt
w/g/h bda
wit/git
i
bde
h/h/hit
w/g/h bden
wit/git
() bd
(g) bda
bdenne
bdende
i bd
bude
h bd
w/g/h budon
wit/git
i
bude
h
w buden
ge-boden
Vocalic III
e + CC
e-ea-u-o
e--u-o
eo-ea-u-o
ie-ea-u-o
i-a-u-u
helpan
berstan
beorgan
gieldan
bindan
hilpst
bierst
bierhst
gieltst
bintst
helpe
berste
beorge
gielde
binde
() help
() berst
() beorg
() gield
() bind
helpende
berstende
beorgende
gieldende
bindende
i healp/ hulpe
i brst/ burste
i bearg/ burge
i geald/ gulde
i band/ bunde
hulpe
burste
burge
gulde
bunde
ge-holpen
ge-borsten
ge-borgen
ge-golden
ge-bunden
Vocalic IV
e + C
1
e---o
beran bierst bere () ber berende i br/ bre bre ge-boren
Vocalic V
e + C
2
e---e
etan itst ete () et etende i t/ te te ge-eten
Vocalic VI
a + C
a---a
faran _ frst _ fare (_) far farende i fr/p fre _ fre ge-faren
1
Usually a liquid (l, r)
2
Usually a stop (p, t, c, d, g) or spirant (f, ", s)
THE OLD ENGLISH VERBAL SYSTEM
PRESENT GROUP PRETERITE CLASS
Uniform
Gradation
Infinitive Indicative Optative/
Subjunctive
Imperative Gerundive/
Participle
Indicative Optative
PAST
PARTICIPLE
Vocalic VII
ancient reduplication
preterite
preterite
btan
htan
btst
htst
bte
hte
() bt
() ht
btende
htende
i bt/ bte
i ht/ hte
bte
hte
ge-bten
ge-hten
!WEAK VERBS
PRESENT GROUP PRETERITE CLASS
Infinitive Indicative Optative/
Subjunctive
Imperative Gerundive/
Participle
Indicative Optative
PAST
PARTICIPLE
Consonantic I
fremman i fremme
fremest
h freme
w fremma
i fremme
w fremmen
() freme
(g) frema_
fremenne
fremende
i fremede
fremedest
h fremede
w fremedon
i fremede
w fremeden
ge-fremed
Consonantic II
-ian infinitives
folgian i folgie
folgast
h folga
w folgia
i folgie
w folgien
() folga
(g) folgia_
folgenne
folgende
i folgode
_ folgodest
h folgode
w folgodon
i folgode
w folgoden
ge-folgod
Consonantic III
habban i hbbe
p hfst
h hf
w habba_
i hbbe
w hbben
() hafa
(ge) habba_
hbbenne
hbbende
i hfde
hfdest
h hfde
w hfdon
i hfde
w hfden
ge-hfd
OLD ENGLISH IRREGULAR VERBS
A. ATHEMATIC (-mi stem)
PRESENT GROUP PRETERITE
Infinitive Indicative Optative/
Subjunctive
Imperative Gerundive/
Participle
Indicative Optative
PAST
PARTICIPLE
bon/ wesan
to be
i eom/ bo
eart/ bist
h is/ bi
w sindon/ bo
sint
i
se/ bo
h
w sen/ bon
() wes/ bo
(!) wesa/
bo
bnne/
wesenne
bnde/
wesende
i ws
wre
h ws
w wron
i
wre
h
w wren
willan
to want
i wille
wilt
h wil(l)e
w willa
i
wille
h
w willen
(willenne)/
willende
i wolde
woldest
h wolde
w woldon
i
wolde
h
w wolden
dn
to do
i d
dst
h d
w d
i
d
h
w dn
d
d
dnde i dyde
dydest
h dyde
w dydon
i
dyde
h
w dyden
!edn
gn
(to go
i g
gst
h g
w g
i
g
h
w gn
g
g
i de
dest
h de
w don
i
de
h
w den
!egn
B. PRETERITE-PRESENT (most important verbs)
PRESENT GROUP PRETERITE
Infinitive Indicative Optative/
Subjunctive
Imperative Participle Indicative Optative
PAST
PARTICIPLE
witan
to know
i wt
wst
h wt
w witon
i
wite
h
w witen
witende i wisse/wiste
wissest/
wistest
h wisse/
wisste
w wisson/
wiston
i
wisse
h
w wissen
!ewiten
gan
to own
i g/ h
hst
h g/ h
w gon
i
ge
h
w gen
ge
ga
gende i hte
htest
h hte
w hton
i
hte
h
w hten
!en
cunnan
to know,
can
i can(n)
canst
h can(n)
w cunnon
i
cunne
h
w cunnen
cunnende i ce
cest
h ce
w con
i
ce
h
w cen
(!e)cunnen
c
sulan shall i seal(l)
sealt
h seal(l)
w sulon
i
syle
h
w sylen
i seolde
seoldest
h seolde
w seoldon
i
seolde
h
w seolden
-(e)s
(-e)
nde
ndes
nde
-e
-es
-e
nme
nme
nme
-e
-e
-e
stn
stn(e)s
stn
-(e)s
si
9
a, o
an
10
1
In the Northern & Midlands dialects.
2
In the Southern dialects.
3
In the Northern dialects.
4
In the Midlands dialects.
5
In the Southern dialects.
6
In the Southern dialects.
7
In the Northern dialects.
8
In the Kentish dialect.
9
In the Kentish dialect.
10
In the South-Eastern dialect (London).
MIDDLE ENGLISH PARADIGMS
OTHER PRONOUNS
Type Examples Declensions Remarks
at (m., n., f.) Sg. at
Pl. , , theo, s, s
generalised after 12
th
c.
es (m.), eos (f.), is (n.) Sg. is (~Ac.m. isne)
Pl. ise, se Demonstrative
self, seolf, solf, sulf=
ilk, ilch, ych
Sg. self
Pl. selve, selven
wh (m., f.) N wh, w, hu
A whm
G whs
D whm (wm, whm)
what (n.) N what (wat, hwat, hwet, quat)
A what
G whs
D whm (wm, whm)
Interrogative
wether, weer, wher(e), huader, quehthir
which, whylk, wylke, hwucche, huyche
=which of them?
(se) at invariable Relative
Note: Interrogatives (who, what, which) function as relatives after the 14
th
c.
Indefinite
al; ani, any; au!t, oght (aught, anything); bth(e), be; ch, ich, alc (each); chn (each one);
eyer (either); elles (else); everych (every[one]); everychn (everyone); man, mon, men, me
(one; cf. G man); many, many n; nn(e), n, nn(e), n; n(e), n(e); ther; som(e), sum; swich,
such, swilk; elli, ulli (such; cf. Fr. tel); whs (whoever).
THE ADJECTIVE
!Adjectives are generally invariable. Only monosyllabic adjectives ending in a consonant may be declined.
e.g.: Sg. gd (strong decl.); gde (weak declension)
Pl. gde
(Similarly: al, brd, df, hl, lng, smal, strng, swich, fast, ful, (-)les)
!Comparison: glad gladd-re, -er gladd-est
!Irregularities: late latt-er lest (<latt-est)
gd bettre, betere, bet best
ltel lesse, lasse lste
mikel mre, mare, m mst
vel werse, wurse werst, wurst
long lenger lengest
strng, strang strenger strengest
ld, ald elder eldest
ni!, n! nre, nerre next
Source: Fernand Moss, Manuel de l'anglais du Moyen ge, II.1. Moyenl-Anglais, (Ch. V-VII, Le substantif , Les
pronoms , L'adjectif , 54-76), Paris, 1949.
Excerpted from:
Bruce Mitchell, Fred C. Robinson, A Guide to Old English,
Oxford: Blackwell, 5th edn 1992.
SSEEMINAR 1
SEMINAR 1
SEEMINAR 2
SEMINAR 2
Source: Bruce Mitchell, Fred C. Robinson, A Guide to
Old English, Oxford: Blackwell, 5th edn, 1992.
SEMINAR 3
Venerable Bede, Historia ecclesiastica in OE;
The Story of the Poet Cdmon
Source: Bruce Mitchell, Fred C. Robinson,
A Guide to Old English, Oxford: Blackwell,
5th edn, 1992.
SEMINAR 4
The Exeter Book Riddles
Source: Bruce Mitchell, Fred C. Robinson, A Guide to Old English, Oxford: Blackwell, 5th edn, 1995.
SEMINAR 5
Beowulf: Grendel's First Attack
Source: Beowulf, ed. by Michael Alexander, Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1995.
SEMINAR 6
Cursor Mundi
Middle English, ca. 1300
is are the maters redde on raw
at i thynk in is bok to draw,
Schortly rimand on e dede,
For mani er ai her-of to spede.
Notful me thinc it ware to man
To knaw him self how he began,
How [he] began in werld to brede,
How his oxspring began to sprede,
Bath o e first and o e last,
In quatking curs is world es past.
Efter haly kyrc[es] state
is ilk bok it es translate
In to Inglis tong to rede
For the loue of Inglis lede,
Inglis lede of Ingland,
For the commun at understand.
Frankis rimes here I redd,
Comunlik in ilk[a] sted:
Mast es it wroght for Frankis man.
Quat is for him na Frankis can?
Of Ingland the nacion,
Es Inglis man ar in commun;
e speche at man wit mast may spede,
Mast ar-wit to speke war nede.
Selden was for ani chance
Praised Inglis tong in France.
Giue we ilkan are langage,
Me think we do am non outrage.
To laud and Inglis man i spell
at understandes at i tell
225
230
235
240
245
250
explained
rhyming
are; benefit
useful
= offspring
what kind (qu- = hw-)
same
people (cf. G Leute)
to
hear
each (= every-
wherewith
therewith; were
lay(men)
London, BL MS Cotton Vespasian A. III
Sanges sere of selcuth rime,
Inglis, frankys, and latine,
to rede and here Ilkon is prest, 25
e thynges at am likes best.
e wisman wil o wisdom here,
e foul hym draghus to foly nere,
e wrang to here o right is lath,
And pride wyt buxsumnes is wrath; 30
O chastite has lichur leth,
On charite ai werrais wreth;
Bot be the fruit may scilwis se,
O quat vertu is ilka tre
Of alkyn fruit at man schal fynd 35
He fettes fro e rote his kynd.
Cambridge, Trinity College MS R. 3.8
Mony songes of dyverse ryme,
As englisshe frensshe & latyne
To rede & here mony are prest
Of inges at hem like best
e wise mon wol of wisdome here
e fool him drawe to foly nere
e wronge to here rit is loo
And pride wi buxomnes is wroo
Of chastite e lecchoure ha lite
Charite aeyn wrae wol flite
But bi e fruyte may men ofte se
Of what vertu is vche a tre
And vche fruyt at man may fynde
He ha from e rote his kynde.
Source: Cursor Mundi, ed. by Richard Morris, EETS OS 57, 1961 (1874).
SEMINAR 7
Source: Geoffrey Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, ed. by AC Cawley, London: Dent (Everyman's Library), 1992.
SEMINAR 7