3.3 Adjective declensions and comparison

Old English adjectives have two declension patterns: strong and weak. Strong declensions are used without determiners, while weak ones follow determiners. These patterns reflect the complex system of agreement between adjectives and nouns in Old English.

Adjectives agree with nouns in case, number, and gender. The strong declension has distinct endings for different genders and cases, while the weak declension is simpler. Comparatives and superlatives are formed by adding suffixes, with some irregular forms changing stem vowels.

Adjective Declensions

Strong vs weak adjective declensions

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• Strong adjective declensions used when adjective not preceded by determiner (demonstrative, possessive, article)
  • Endings resemble those of strong nouns (stān, dæg, word)
• Weak adjective declensions used when adjective preceded by determiner
  • Endings resemble those of weak nouns (nama, ēage, tunge)

Adjective declension patterns

• Adjectives agree with modified nouns in case (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative), number (singular, plural), gender (masculine, neuter, feminine)
• Strong declension endings:
  • Masculine
    • Nominative singular -∅ (gōd)
    • Accusative singular -ne (gōdne)
    • Genitive singular -es (gōdes)
    • Dative singular -um (gōdum)
  • Neuter
    • Nominative and accusative singular -∅ (gōd)
    • Genitive singular -es (gōdes)
    • Dative singular -um (gōdum)
  • Feminine
    • Nominative singular -u/-∅ (gōdu/gōd)
    • Accusative singular -e (gōde)
    • Genitive singular -re (gōdre)
    • Dative singular -re (gōdre)
  • Plural all genders
    • Nominative and accusative -e (gōde)
    • Genitive -ra (gōdra)
    • Dative -um (gōdum)
• Weak declension endings:
  • Masculine
    • Nominative singular -a (gōda)
    • Accusative, genitive, dative singular -an (gōdan)
  • Neuter
    • Nominative and accusative singular -e (gōde)
    • Genitive and dative singular -an (gōdan)
  • Feminine
    • Nominative and accusative singular -e (gōde)
    • Genitive and dative singular -an (gōdan)
  • Plural all genders
    • Nominative and accusative -an (gōdan)
    • Genitive -ena/-ra (gōdena/gōdra)
    • Dative -um (gōdum)

Adjective Comparison

Comparative and superlative adjectives

• Comparative formed by adding -ra to stem
  • Regular: eald (old) → ealdra (older)
  • Irregular: change stem vowel and add -ra, gōd (good) → betera (better)
• Superlative formed by adding -ost/-est to stem
  • Regular: eald (old) → ealdost (oldest)
  • Irregular: change stem vowel and add -ost/-est, gōd (good) → betst (best)

Adjective-noun agreement in Old English

1. Identify case, number, gender of modified noun
2. Determine if adjective preceded by determiner
   • If yes, use weak declension
   • If no, use strong declension
3. Decline adjective according to noun's case, number, gender using appropriate strong or weak endings
   • Example: þone gōdan cyning (masculine accusative singular, weak declension due to demonstrative þone)