Middle English
Syntax
W.K. Hünig
Point out the syntactic differences between the ME sentences and
their ModE equivalent which you are requested to provide.
Consider the whole clause or sentence, especially the parts which
are underlined. Cf. example 1. Also: check the context - the no. of
the line(s) has been provided.
Example:
ME 1.a. Whan that April with his shoures soote ... (line 1)
ModE 1.b. When April with its sweet showers
Explanation
1. In ModE April is used without an article or determiner.
2. The gender of April is neutral (in ModE).
3. Whereas there is a postmodification in ME, i.e. N+Adj., the
order in ModE normally is Adj.+N, i.e. a premodificaton.
Postmodification in ModE is restricted to a few cases, e.g. court
martial, God almighty, (?) a moment divine!
2.a. Thanne longen palmeres for to seken
2.b. Then pilgrims long to seek.
(line 13)
Explanation:
1. The for-to-infinitive is replaced by a simple to-infinitive
2. The ME word order Adv. V S is changed to Adv. S V in ModE.
3.a. At many a noble armee hadde he be. (line 60)
3.b. He had been in many a noble army.
Explanation:
1. The ME Preposition at is changed to in in ModE.
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2. The ME word order Adv. Aux S V-Participle is changed to S
Aux V-Participle Adv. in ModE.
4.a. He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde in al his lyf unto no
maner wight. (l. 70+71)
4.b. He has never said a rude word in all his life to no kind of
person.
Explanation:
1. The triple negation is eliminated in ModE.
2. yet in combination with the past tense in ME is replaced by the
present perfect in ModE.
3. The meaning of vileynye has changed in ModE so that a new
expression has to be chosen.
4. The ME Preposition unto is changed to to in ModE.
5. The N N construction no maner wight in ME has to be replaced
by an of-genitive in ModE.
5.a. With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse. (l. 81)
5.b. With curly locks as if curlers had been put in (the hair).
Explanation:
1. The ME conjunction as is changed to as if in ModE
2. The changed technology requires a rephrasing.
l. 429 For ech of hem made oother for to wynneFor each of them made (allowed) the other one (to) profit
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6.a. Of wodecraft wel koude he al the usage . (l. 110)
6.b. He knew all the methods of forestry well.
Explanation:
1. The ME word order of-construction (PP) Adv. V S Quant. Det.
N is changed to S V Quant. Det. N of-construction (PP) Adv. in
ModE.
2. The meaning of usage has changed in ModE so that a new
expression has to be chosen.
7.a. Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne (l. 122)
7.b. She sang the hymns (during a church service) very well.
Explanation:
1. The ME word order Adv. Adv. S V O is changed to S V O Adv.
Adv. in ModE.
2. The ME metonymy service dyvyne is not current any longer in
ModE.
3. ful as an intensifying adverb in ME has to be replaced by very
in ModE.
4. The adding of the adverbial during a church service in ModE is
optional.
8.a. Ful semely after hir mete she raughte. (l. 136)
8.b. Very elegantly she reached for her meat.
Explanation:
1. The ME Preposition after is changed to for in ModE.
2. The meaning of semely has changed in ModE (seemly means
socially suitable) so that a new expression has to be chosen.
3. ful as an intensifying adverb in ME has to be replaced by very
in ModE.
9.a. A manly man, to been an abbot able. (l. 167)
9.b. A manly man, able to be an abbot.
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Explanation:
1. The ME word order to-infinitive+ N + able is changed to able +
to-infinitive + N in ModE.
2. The ME word order to-infinitive been is changed to be in
ModE.
10.a. He hadde of gold ywroght a ful curious pyn; (l. 196)
10.b. He had a very elegant pin made of gold;
Explanation:
1. The premodifying PP + PParticiple (of gold ywroght) in ME is
changed to a postmodifying PParticiple + PP in ModE.
2. ful as an intensifying adverb in ME has to be replaced by very
in ModE.
3. The meaning of curious has changed in ModE so that a new
expression has to be chosen.
11.a. His eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed (l. 202)
11.b. His eyes were protruding, and rolling in his head
Explanation:
1. The ME plural eyen is changed to eyes in ModE.
2. The meaning of stepe has changed in ModE (stepe means
”steil”) so that a new expression has to be chosen.
3. (Possibly) There is copula deletion (i.e. deletion of be) in ME.
12.a. Of fees and robes hadde he many oon. (l. 317)
12.b. He had various incomes and much property.
Explanation:
1. The of-construction (partitive genitive) in ME which is
combined with the prop-word oon (one in ModE) has to be
replaced by Adj. + N and Quant. + N in ModE. (Cf. G. Der
Ideen/Hemden hat er viele.)
2. The ME word order V + S is changed to S + V in ModE.
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13.a. An housholdere, and that a greet, was he; (l. 339)
13.b. An host and a great one he was;
Explanation:
1. The ME postmodifying construction and + rel. pronoun + Adj.
has
to
be
replaced
by
and + Adj. + prop-word one in ModE. (Cf. G. Der Ideen/Hemden
hat er viele.)
2. The ME word order V + S is changed to S + V in ModE.
14.a. After the sondry sesons of the yeer, (l. 347)
So chaunged he his mete and his soper (l. 348)
14.b. He changed his lunches and dinners according to the
different seasons of the year.
Explanation:
1. The ME word order Adverbial + main clause is changed to
main clause + Adverbial in ModE.
2. The cohesive particle so is left out in ModE.
3. The meaning of sondry, mete and soper have changed in ModE
so that a new expressions have to be chosen.
15.a. His table dormant in his halle alway (l. 353)
Stood redy covered al the longe day. (l. 354)
15b. His table which was always left in his hall stood ready
and was laid all day (long).
Explanation:
1. There is copula deletion (i.e. deletion of be) in ME.
2. The ME expression (be) dormant has to be replaced in ModE.
3. Therefor also the postmodifying construction N + Adj. is
replaced by a relative clause in ModE.
4. The second postmodifying construction N + Adj. + Adv. ((his
table) covered al the longe day) is replaced by a be + PPart.
construction in ModE.
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16.a. Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour. (l. 360)
16.b.
Explanation:
17.a. But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me, (385)
That on his shyne a mormal hadde he. (l. 386)
Explanation:
18.a. His barge ycleped was the Maudelayne. (l. 41
18.b.
Explanation:
19.a. And yet he was but esy of dispence; (l. 441)
19.b.
Explanation:
20.a. Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground; (l. 453)
20.b.
Explanation:
21.a. But thereof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe. (l. 462)
21.b.
Explanation:
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22.a. Ful looth were hym to cursen for his tithes (l. 486)
22.b.
Explanation:
23.a. But he ne lefte nat, for reyn ne thonder (l. 492)
23.b.
Explanation:
24.a. With hym ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother, (l.
529)
That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother (l. 530)
Explanation:
25.a. That proved wel, for over al ther he cam (l. 547)
25.b.
Explanation.
26.a. Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed. (l. 551)
26.b.
Explanation.
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27.a. His nosethirles blake were and wyde. (l. 557)
27.b.
Explanation:
28.a. His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys. (l. 559)
28.b.
Explanation:
29.a. That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white (l. 632)
29.b.
Explanation:
30.a. No wonder is, he herde it al the day; (l. 641)
30.b.
Explanation:
31.a. Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun. (l. 674)
31.b.
Explanation:
32.a. Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare. (l. 684)
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32.b.
Expl:
33.a. He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn (l. 749)
33.b.
Explanation:
34.a. Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste.
34.b.
Explanation:
35.a. And of manhod hym lakkede right naught. (l. 756)
35.b.
Explanation:
36.a. Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how. (l. 766)
36.b.
Explanation:
37.a. And bad him seye his voirdit as hym leste. (l. 787)
37.b.
Explanation:
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38.a. Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale. (l. 831)
38.b.
Explanation:
39.a. Whoso be rebel to my juggement (l. 833)
39.b.
Explanation: