The Syntax of Early English - Cryptm.org

106 The syntax of early English(4) We habba hwæere a bysne on halgum bocum‘We have, nevertheless, the examples in holy books’ (ÆCHom I, 33.474.33)(5) Se Hælend wear a gelomlice ætiwed his leornung-cnihtumthe Lord was then frequently shown his disciples (D)‘The Lord then frequently appeared to his disciples’ (ÆCHom I, 15.220.21)While (4) is a VO sentence and (5) a Vfin–Adv–Adv–Vnonfin–O sentence,there is no difference between them with respect to the position of subject andfinite verb.When the first constituent in a main clause is not the subject, the finite verbvery often follows it. This is what is traditionally called subject–verb inversion,and is exceptionless when the first constituent is a question element as in (6),or the negative adverbial ne as in (7). It is also extremely dominant after theshort adverbial a as in (8).(6) a. Hwi wolde God swa lytles inges him forwyrnan?why would God so small thing him deny‘Why should God deny him such a small thing?’ (ÆCHom I, 1.14.2)b. for hwam noldest u e sylfe me gecyan æt . . .for what not-wanted you yourself me make-known that‘wherefore would you not want to make known to me yourself that . . .’(LS 7(Euphr) 305)(7) Ne sceal he naht unaliefedes donnot shall he nothing unlawful do‘He shall not do anything unlawful’ (CP 10.61.14)(8) a wæs æt folc æs micclan welan ungemetlicethen was the people the great prosperity (G) excessivelybrucende . . .partaking‘Then the people were partaking excessively of the great prosperity.’(Or 1.23.3)With the types of first constituents as in (6)–(8), it does not matter whether thesubject is nominal or pronominal; it is always inverted. This is also true forthose contexts where, in the absence of a first constituent, the finite verb is infirst position. This happens in yes–no questions and in so-called narrativeinversion, which is found in lively narrative:(9) Hæfst u ænigne geferan?‘Have you any companions?’ (ÆColl 28)(10) Wæs Hæsten a ær cumen mid his hergewas Hæsten then there come with his host‘Hæsten then had come there with his host’ (ChronA (Plummer) 894.43)