Middle English Syntax: Within Phrases - Adjectives usually before nouns
- an erþely servaunt
- an earthly servant
- • occasionally after the noun in poetry
- shoures soote
- showers sweet
Syntax in Phrases (cont’d) - With more than one adjective, sometimes one before the noun, the rest after it
- a gode wyt and a retentyff
- a good wit and a retentive
- • in possessive, no apostrophe
- oþer mens prosperite
- • the ‘s sometimes became -is
- go to þe raven is neste
- go to the raven’s nest
- • ME: first occurrence of of for possessive
- aftyr þe lawes of our londe
- according to the laws of our land
- possessive + noun + noun modifiers
- the Dukes place of Lancastre
- the Duke of Lancaster’s place
- • double possessive (both of and possessive pronoun) came in with ME
- the capteyn…toke awey .j. obligacion of myn
- the captain…took away one obligation of mine
Adverbial Modifiers - Adverbs & adverb phrases came before the words they modified more often than in MnE
- ye shul first in alle youre werkes
- you must first in all your works
- mekely biseken to the heighe God
- meekly beseech to the high God
- • the negative ne always came before the main verb, and often contracted with it
- I nolde fange a ferthynge for seynt Thomas shryne
- I would not take a farthing for St. Thomas’ shrine
- • as in OE, double negatives very common
- He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde / In all his lyf unto no maner wight (Chaucer)
Preposition Phrases - Prepositions still occasionally followed their objects
- he seyde him to
- • in relative clauses, prepositions usually came at or near the end of the phrase
- the place that I of speke
- the place that I of speak
- preciouse stanes þat he myght by a kingdom with
- precious stones that he might buy a kingdom with
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