Wp/enm/Wikipaedia:Spelling and grammar

This page will detail the grammar used on the test wiki for Middle English. While the actual grammar did vary over time, it is helpful to have a baseline for everyone to use.

Verbs
Verbs take endings depending on the person doing the action. They usually take the following endings:
 * I/ich -e
 * þou -est
 * he, schee, it -eþ
 * we, ge, þei/hi -eþ


 * The infinitive ends in -en
 * Subjunctive ends in -e

To be (been)

 * Inflected infinitive: to beonne
 * Present Indicative: ich am, þou art/beest, he is/beeþ, we/ȝe/þei beeþ/bee(n)/arn
 * Present Subjunctive: ich/þou/he be; we/ȝe/þei be(n)
 * Past Indicative: ich was, þou wast/were, he was, we/ȝe/þei were(n)
 * Past Subjunctive: ich/þou/he were; we/ȝe/þei were(n)
 * Imperative: be!/beþ!
 * Participles: beande or being, (i-)been

Strong verb sample (singen)

 * Inflected infinitive: to singen
 * Present Indicative: ich sing(e), þou singest, he singeþ, we/ȝe/þei singen
 * Present Subjunctive: ich/þou/he sing(e); we/ȝe/þei sing(en)
 * Past Indicative: ich sang, þou sung, he sang, we/ȝe/þei sung(en)
 * Past Subjunctive: ich/þou/he sung, we/ȝe/þei sung(en)
 * Imperative: sing!/singen!
 * Participles: singende/singing(e), (i)sung(en)

Weak verb sample (luven)

 * Inflected infinitive: to luven
 * Present Indicative: ich luve, þou luvest, he luveþ, we/ȝe/þei luveþ
 * Present Subjunctive: ich/þou/he luve, we/ȝe/þei luve/luven
 * Past Indicative: ich luved(e), þou luvedest, he luved(e), we/ȝe/þei luved/luveden
 * Past Subjunctive: ich/þou/he luved(e), we/ȝe/þei luved/luveden
 * Imperative: luve!/luveþ!
 * Participles: luvend, iluved

Adjectives
In the singular, adjectives can either have no ending or end with -e. Plural adjectives or adjectives after þe almost always have the weak ending -e.

Online resources

 * Concise Dictionary of Middle English
 * Etext Center Middle English Collection
 * University of Michigan Middle English Dictionary
 * About Middle English Grammar
 * A Brief Introduction to Middle English Grammar
 * Middle English Survival Kit