Here it is! Nearly a year after the last one! Seeing as I'm making this, it must be the endtimes. Or perhaps we still have hope as I haven't yet written a new Veritaloquers Chapter.
Lesson 3 - Plural Pronouns and Adjectives
We have now finished talking about the singular personal pronouns and possessive adjectives/pronouns (of the second person). But how about the plural? Do the personal pronouns and possessive adjectives differ from what we use in Modern English? Are they like their singular counterparts, perhaps? Or is something completely new used?
As you may have guessed, considering I'm dedicating a lesson on this or from reading what N_B said earlier in the thread, Old English does differ to Modern in this subject. In fact, you may be wondering where 'ye' fits in all this, or you may already suspect/know it's got to do with plural. Ye is actually the nominative case of the second person plural personal pronoun or in other words the plural of thou and the second person counterpart of we. The accusative case, though, is simply you like in Modern English. Similarly, your and yours are the second person plural possesive adjective and pronoun respectively. Their usage is the same as that of Modern English (as far as the plural value is concerned, of course).
Let's see some examples:
For example:
"So, ye are the Knights of the Olde Speech?" (nominative, personal pronoun).
"Yay".
"Then, wouldst thou say that your organisation is that of the Knights of the Olde Speech?" (possessive adjective).
"Yay".
"So, Nights of the Bolt Peach is not a name of yours?" (possessive pronoun).
"Nay".
"And thedude has no allegiance with you?" (accusative, personal pronoun).
"Nay".
"And whose land is this?"
"'tis your land, the land of Morcians".
"'tis ours?"
"'tis yours".
"Then, I'll just have to rule it".
It is interesting to note that historically the singular values (thou/thee/thy/thine) were originally used informally to convey intimacy, while the plural (ye/you/your/yours) were used for addressing someone formally as well as for talking about multiple objects, people, animals, plants, life forms in general, etc. etc.. So, one would use singular to talk to their friends and family, but would use plural for a stranger, their elders, people to whom they wish to show respect in general. Some people are surprised by this as nowadays we are used to thou, thee, thy and thine conveying a (possibly meretricious) sense of reverence or formality, but it actually makes a lot of sense. There are many languages where plural is used to show respect and to be formal. Modern English simply has the same words for plural and singular, so it's just impossible to attempt that, even if it wanted to.
In the case of the KotOS in-story, I'd say using the singular values in a more formal way isn't inaccurate. This way of speech is considered Olde in this universe just like in ours (even if the Morcian setting is medieval). However, it might be more accurate to make the formal-informal distinction in stories, like A History Lesson, taking place in the past. In fact, I should probably edit that story to account for that.
Now for some exercises
Fill in the gaps (the answers can be in either the singular or the plural value):
- Here it goes. I, Sir Sharpie, Taker of Dares and Daredevil of Lightning, wish to join __, and __ magnificent group.
- I thank __ sir, for saving us from that evil creature. But who art __?
- Go back where __ came from, __ foul beasts!
- Can I have some of __ apples?
- Thingguys, give me all the oats of __!
- __ are to conquer the Paradox Rogues, and bring back my tender daughter.
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