THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH 
ADJECTIVES 

FROM OLD ENGLISH TO MODERN ENGLISH 

Albertus SuwardP 

Abstract: This paper discusses the development of adjectives in Old 
English, Middle English, and Modern English. In the discussion it is 
found that the Old English'adjectives had inflectional modification 
to indicate numbers, genders, cases, and degrees of comparisons, 
and there was a distinction of weak and strong declensions. In Middle 
English, most of the declensional distinctions were lost, the general 
tendency of the language being to drop all suffixes. Adjectives in 
Modem English do not change their fomlS to show changes in 
number. case, or gender; and onl), afew adjectives o/the pronominal 
class possess meanings which indicate number. One, and every, each 
modify singular nouns while several. few. many modif), only plural 
substantives. I" Modem English no adjective is capable of indicating 
gender or case. 

Key words: adjective, inflection, declension, gender. case. 

INTRODUCTION 

This paper is intended to discuss about. the development and the 
changes of the English adjectives, in Old English. Middle English, and Middle 
English. All languages in the world develop and change. A language is 
developing from time to time, and from generations to generations. Speakers 
of a certain language cannot prevent the language they speak from developing 

Drs. Albertus Suwardi, M.Hum. <albertus261O@yahoo.com> is a DPK (state) lecturer 
currently assigned at the English Department of the Faculty of Letters and Culture. 

University of Technology Yogyakarta. 





















A. Suwardi, The Development of English Adjectives 3S ~_ 

declensional distinctions were lost, the general tendency of the language is ~~~ ~ J 
to drop all suffixes. Adjectives in Modem English do not change their forms ,oeRPUS1:-
to show changes in number, case, or gender; and only a few adjectives of 
the pronominal class possess meanings which indicate number. One, and 
every, each modify singular nouns while several, few, many modify only 
plural substantives. In Modem English no adjective is capable of indicating 
gender or case. 

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O'Grady, W., M. Dobrovolsky and F. Katamba. Contemporary Linguistics: An 
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Wardhaugh, R. An/ntroduction to Sociolinguistics. Cambridge: Blackwell Publisher, 
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Wright, 1. An Elementary Old English Grammar. Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 
1923. 

___ . An Elementary Middle English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University 
Press, 1928. 


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