The Development of

Pronominal Parts of Speech in

the History of English
(The Pronoun, the Adjective)

PRESENTATION
 Introduction

The development of pronominal parts of speech in the history of

English has been a subject of great interest among linguists and
language enthusiasts alike. Pronouns, which replace nouns and
noun phrases, and adjectives, which modify nouns, have
undergone significant changes over the centuries.
In this presentation, we will explore the evolution of pronouns and
adjectives in the English language, from their origins to their
modern-day usage.
 Old English Pronouns

Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, was spoken in England from the
5th century until the Norman Conquest in 1066. In Old English, pronouns
were inflected to reflect their grammatical case, gender, and number. For
example, the pronoun 'he' had four forms: 'he' (nominative), 'him'
(accusative/dative), 'his' (genitive), and 'hine' (accusative).
Old English also had a dual number, which was used to refer to two people
or things. The dual pronouns included 'wit' (we two), 'git' (you two), and
'unc' (us two).
 Middle English Pronouns

Middle English developed after the Norman Conquest, when French became the
language of the ruling class in England. As a result, Middle English borrowed
many French words and grammatical structures. Pronouns in Middle English
became less inflected and more reliant on word order to convey meaning.
Middle English also saw the development of the pronoun 'you' as a formal or
polite form of address, replacing the earlier singular 'thou'. Additionally, the
pronoun 'it' emerged as a gender-neutral replacement for the masculine 'he' or
feminine 'she'.
 Early Modern English Pronouns

Early Modern English was spoken from the 15th to the 17th century, and
saw significant changes in grammar and vocabulary. Pronouns in Early
Modern English became even less inflected than in Middle English, with the
loss of the dual number and the simplification of the declension system.
Early Modern English also saw the emergence of the pronoun 'they' as a
gender-neutral replacement for the plural forms 'he', 'she', and 'they'. This
usage was controversial at the time, but has since become widely accepted.
 Old English Adjectives

In Old English, adjectives were inflected to match the gender, number, and
case of the noun they modified. This meant that adjectives had different forms
depending on whether they were modifying a masculine, feminine, or neuter
noun, as well as whether the noun was singular or plural and whether it was the
subject or object of the sentence.
Old English adjectives also had strong and weak forms, which were used
depending on the grammatical context of the sentence. For example, the strong
form of the adjective 'good' was 'gōd', while the weak form was 'godan'.
 Middle English Adjectives

During the Middle English period, adjectives began to lose their inflectional
endings and instead relied on word order and context to convey their
meaning. This meant that adjectives no longer needed to agree with the
gender, number, and case of the noun they modified.
Middle English also saw the emergence of new adjectives that were
borrowed from French and other Romance languages. These adjectives often
had different spelling and pronunciation than their Old English counterparts
and added a new dimension to the English language.
 Early Modern English Adjectives

In Early Modern English, adjectives continued to evolve and adapt to the

changing linguistic landscape. One major development was the use of
comparative and superlative forms of adjectives, which allowed speakers to
compare and contrast different qualities more easily.
Early Modern English also saw the rise of new adjectives that reflected the
growing scientific and philosophical interest of the time. Words like 'atomic'
and 'philosophical' entered the English lexicon and helped to expand the
language's vocabulary and expressive power.
 Late Modern English Adjectives

In Late Modern English, adjectives continued to evolve and adapt to the

changing needs of speakers and writers. One major development was the use
of adjectives as nouns, which allowed speakers to create new words and
expressions that were more concise and efficient.
Late Modern English also saw the emergence of new adjectives that
reflected the changing social and cultural landscape of the time. Words like
'feminist' and 'environmental' entered the lexicon and helped to shape the
discourse around important issues of the day.
 Conclusion

The development of pronouns and adjectives in the history of English is a

fascinating subject that sheds light on the evolution of language and society
over time. From the inflected pronouns of Old English to the gender-neutral
pronouns of modern English, the changes in these parts of speech reflect the
changing attitudes and values of the people who spoke them.
As we continue to use and adapt the English language in the present day, it is
important to understand its rich and complex history, and to appreciate the
ways in which it has evolved and continues to evolve.
 Sources
• Євченко В.В. Історія англійської мови / В.В. Євченко. –
Вінниця, Нова книга, 2016. – 403 с.
• Barber Ch. The English Language. A Historical
Introduction / Ch. Baber, J. Beal, Ph.Shaw. – Cambridge
University Press. – 2009. – 306 p.