MODAL VERBS AND THEIR ORIGINS IN ENGLISH
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Abstract: This essay explores the origins of modal verbs in the English language, tracing their historical development and the impact of different language families on their formation. It discusses how Old English laid the foundation for modal verbs, influenced by Germanic tribes. It also examines the influence of Latin and French on the formation of new modal verbs and the impact of Old Norse during the Viking invasions. Understanding the origins of modal verbs provides insight into their significance in contemporary English usage.
Article Details
References
"The Origins and Development of the English Language" by Thomas Pyles and John Algeo.
"The History of English: A Linguistic Introduction" by Scott Shay.
"The English Language: From Sound to Sense" by Gerald P. Delahunty and James J. Garvey.
"A History of the English Language" by Elly van Gelderen.
"The Oxford History of English" edited by Lynda Mugglestone.