Вопрос 44 The evolution of syntax.

The syntax of Old English was much more flexible than modern English because of the declensions of the nouns. The case endings told the function of the word in the sentence, so word order was not very important. But as the stress began to move to the first syllable of words, the endings were not pronounced as clearly and began to diminish from the language. So in modern English, word order is very important because we no longer have declensions to show case distinctions. Instead we use prepositions. The general word order was subject - verb - object, but it did vary in a few instances:1. When an object is a pronoun, it often precedes the verb. 2. When a sentence begins with an adverb, the subject often follows the verb. 3. The verb often comes at the end of a subordinate clause.

ME - Syntax was stricter and more prepositions were used. New compound tenses were used, such as the perfect tenses, and there was more use of the progressive and passive voice. The use of double negation also increased as did impersonal constructions. The use of the verbs will and shall for the future tense was first used too. Formerly, will meant want and shall meant obliged to.

The most obvious difference between OE syntax andthe syntax of the ME and NE periods is that the word order became morestrict and the use of prepositions more extensive.

In ME is used the direct word order. But in the sentences which began with adjunct (обстоятельственное) word, it was indirect word order. The synthetical word order gradually disappears. The word order in ME is not so fixed, as in NE, but has important meaning. Then a direct word order becomes obligatory. The indirect word order begins to be used in questions. The auxiliary word do is entered, which was fixed in questions and negations.

Sentences.

In OE is distinguished part of the sentence, as in the modern language: the main and minor clause.

In ME The word order from a rhetorical category becomes syntactic. A subject is absolutely obligatory member of the sentence. If it is absent there is a formal subject. The model with a formal subject “there” is traced already in OE.

In EarluNE the simple sentence develops basically on a way of ordering of all rules connected with an arrangement of all members, questions and negation.

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
Вопрос 33 Changes of vowel in ME	\|	Вопрос 40 The evolution of weak verb.

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