#  >> Continuing Education >> Writing Guides

How to Conjugate Verbs in Elizabethan English

Elizabethan English was used from the end of the 15th century to about 1650. It is also called Early Modern English. Many of the commoners at that time only had around 700 words in their vocabulary while the elite had around 7,500. Words were added daily and William Shakespeare was credited for adding 2,000 words to early modern English through his books and plays. If you're interested in learning Elizabethan English for performance in a play or understanding Elizabethan books, you can do so by comparing it to modern English language rules.

Instructions

    • 1

      Learn the conjugation of verbs in modern English such as past, present and future tenses. Verb conjugation is the construction of derived forms of a verb from it's principle parts by modifying it to describe past, present and future tenses. For example, "I do" "I did" and "I am doing," "I will do." In Elizabethan English, it would be "Thou dost," "Thou wilt do," or "Thou Shalt."

    • 2

      Compare modern English conjugated verbs to similar phrases in Elizabethan English such as "I sit," "Thou sitteth." Add "-est" in the second-person singular version and "-eth" in the third-person singular format. Examples of "-est" and "-eth" include "Thou sitteth," "Thou prayest," "Thou hatest," "She hateth thee."

    • 3

      Note Elizabethan past tense verb conjugation. In modern English when someone says "You jumped," you would say "Thou didst jump" in Elizabethan English. Review future-tense Elizabethan English verb conjugation. Use "Wilt" or "Shalt" for "Will" and "Shall."

Writing Guides
Writing Guides
Related articles
EduJourney © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved