Adjectives

highly inflected: gender, case, and number

se ealda mann   

se  and –a are uniquely masculine, nominative, singula

 

two different ‘declensions’: choice depends upon the syntax of the sentence

‘definite’ or ‘weak’ declension, if the adjective is in a ‘specifying’ function, esp. preceded by a determiner (e.g. a demonstrative or a possessive pronoun)

se goda cyning

Ic séo ðone gódan cyning Eadmund.

‘indefinite’ or ‘strong’ declension, if the adjective isn’t preceded by a determiner.

Þæt wæs gód cyning.

Ic séo gódne cyning

 

Notice

• the ‘definite’ (‘weak’) adjective declension looks a lot like the ‘weak’ nouns:
  • lots of –an endings!
    • therefore not too helpful for nailing down ‘gender, number, case’
• but that’s ok because they often occur with the demonstrative pronoun, which does have many distinctive forms!
  
• the ‘indefinite’ (‘strong’) adjective paradigm looks a lot like the demonstrative pronoun. E.g.
  • masculine accusative singular
    • adjective is gódne
      demonstrative is ðone
  • feminine dative singular
    • adjective is godre
    • demonstrative is ðære