Old English

English grammar questions, answered by Alan

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FrozenGust
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Old English

Post by FrozenGust »

Greetings! My apologies if that's not the right topic to ask about.

But I oftenly see books, or translations using the "thou", "thee", "hast", without making use of the full Elizabethan English concordances.

So, what's exactly the difference? Was there some old English aside the Early Modern one that could fit here? Or is it just something that happens nowadays to better understanding? Also, how can I learn more about them?

Thanks for the attention!
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Alan
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Re: Old English

Post by Alan »

I'm afraid that we comment here only on the grammar of contemporary English.

However, the use of archaic forms such as 'thou hast' instead of (contemporary standard) 'you have' is occasionally to be found among modern-day natives, often for the purpose of achieving an effect of comic grandiloquence. Naturally, however, when they are used, one would expect such forms to be used correctly (verbs correctly conjugated, etc.)!
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