University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
ENGL 301 | Language and Linguistics
Academic year:

2024
Views:

101

Pages:

2
Author:

Elias Hoffman

Chapter 12: Weak Adjectives As we noted, there are two types of adjectives in Old English: strong adjectives, which we covered in the previous chapter, and weak adjectives. Almost all Old English adjectives can be either strong or weak, depending on how they are used in a sentence. "Strong" and "weak" are just labels that tell you what ending the adjective takes depending on the case (which, you'll remember, marks the grammatical function) of the noun it is modifying. Weak Adjectives do not stand on their own; they come paired with a demonstrative. That wise king ruled Wessex. In the example sentence "wise" is a weak adjective; the demonstrative pronoun "that" is paired with it. "That wise king" forms a single compound subject with all three words in the nominative case. Weak Declension Adjectives Pardigms Singular Weak Adjectives Case Masculine Neuter Feminine Nominative a e e Genitive an an an Accusative an e an Dative and Instrumental an an an Plural Weak Adjectives Case Nominative Genitive Accusative Dative and Instrumental All Genders an ra or ena an um Weak Declension Adjectives Examples god = good Singular Weak Adjectives (Examples) Case Nominative Genitive Accusative Dative and Instrumental Masculine goda godan godan godan Neuter gode godan gode godan Feminine gode godan godan godan Plural Weak Adjectives (Examples) Case Nominative Genitive Accusative Dative and Instrumental All Genders godan godra or godena godan godum