Syntax of the Verb Phrase in Shakespeare's English

Contents: Page:

1.  Introduction  3

2.  Impersonal verbs and constructions  3

2.1  Impersonal verbs and constructions that have become archaic since  

  Shakespeare s time  3

2.2  Impersonal verbs and constructions that are not common in their  

  former construction in PDE  4

2.3  Impersonal and personal constructions  6

3.  Reflexive verbs  7

4.  The sentence type The book sells well  8

4.1  Passive inchoative reflexive and causative meaning of transitive verbs  9

5.  Conclusion  10

  Bibliography  11

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1. Introduction

Language is constantly developing. English grammar in the 16 th and early 17 th century is marked more by the survival of certain forms, constructions and usages that have since disappeared than by any fundamental developments. 1 In this paper I want to demonstrate how the syntax of the verb phrase has changed since Shakespeare’s time.

2. Impersonal verbs and constructions

Today, former impersonal verbs are more often used personally, with a nominative subject. Some of them have become archaic, others are not common in their former construction in Present Day English. There are several reasons for the preference of the use of personal constructions in Modern English. The most important reasons are the loss of inflections in the Middle English period and limited patterns of word order that resulted from that. 2 In some cases Shakespeare had already stopped using the old impersonal construction, others mark the change to the use of personal constructions. Shakespeare used for instance both “I like” and “it likes me”, whereas he only used “he list”, but never the impersonal construction “him list”. 3

2.1 Impersonal Verbs and constructions that have become archaic since

it irks me:

-

Andyet it irks me the poor dappled fools,

Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gor’d. 4

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it joys me:

-

Withall my heart, and much it joys me too, To see you are become so penitent. 5

Other impersonal verbs and constructions that have become archaic since Shakespeare’s time are: “it charges me”, “it dislikes me”, “it faints me”, “it imports me” (= it is of importance to me) and “it yearns me”. 6

2.2 Impersonal verbs and constructions that are not common in their former

Like:

- Thereis evidence for the use of “like” in personal constructions since the middle of the

14 th century. Shakespeare used it both in personal and in impersonal constructions: 7

Diomedes I do not like this fooling

Troilus

Please:

- Shakespearealready used the personal construction frequently; he still used impersonal construction, however.

Personal:

Believe then, if you please, that I can do strange things: I have since I was three year old conversed with a magician, most profound in his art and yet not damnable. 9

Impersonal:

I will tell you the beginning; and, if it please

your ladyships, you may see the end, for the best is yet to do, and here where you are they are coming to perform it. 10

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