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Allen
Can someone explain what are the grammar rules in the old english for adding -th or -st on the end of the word
May 10, 2010 9:47 AM
Answers · 2
In Old English the conjugation of verbs was much different than in Modern English. The alphabet was also different.
Here is how it might look in Modern English:
Present tense
Infinitive Loven (to love)
Sing......................................Plural
1st person.... love .............. lovath
2nd person... lovest ........... lovath
3rd person ....loveth............ lovath
May 10, 2010
We were using Germanic forms.
The quick answer is: +st for second person singular, ie. using "thou" - this changes the same way as I/me/my/mine, and you'll see the parallels in French, German and Gaelic; and +th for third person singular (in modern English, it is now +s)
Dost thou? Knowest thou? (Do you? Do you know/Know you?)
Doth he? Knoweth he? (Does he? Does he know/Knows he?)
"Yea, he knoweth thee, and what thou dost!"
May 10, 2010
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Allen
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English
Learning Language
English
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