Middle English Verb Endings
Complete the two exercises below:
1. Consult the Wycliffite “Tower of Babel” passage: http://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/cb45/files/babel-syntax-2.pdf, where the verbs “to divide” and “to descend” are each used twice. The table below inserts them in a paradigm where they belong. Using the information from our textbook and from other words in the passage, complete the paradigm for these two weak verbs.
|
"to divide"
|
"to descend"
|
|
| INFINITIVE | ||
| (all) | ||
| PRESENT INDICATIVE | ||
| first person | ic | ic |
| second person | thou | thou |
| third person | he | heo |
| plural (all) | thei | ge |
| PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE | ||
| singular (all) | ||
| plural (all) | descende we | |
| PRETERITE INDICATIVE | ||
| first person | ic | ic |
| second person | thou | thou |
| third person | (he) deuydide | (he) descendide |
| plural (all) | we | thei |
| PRETERITE SUBJUNCTIVE | ||
| singular | ||
| plural | ||
| PAST PARTICIPLE | ||
| (all) | dyuydid |
2. What kind of verb is bigunnen in verse 6?
How would you conjugate it (person, number, tense, mood)?
What would its infinitive be?