adjectives adjunct-word adverbs analogy Anglian became called combination compared compounds conjunctions consonant corresponding dative definite derivative dialects diphthongs distinction distinguish dropped Early MnE element emphatic ending equivalent express feminine form-words free group French words frequent gender genitive German gerund grammatical function head-word Hence imperative indeclinable indefinite infin inflection influence interrogative isolated Late Latin lengthened logical masc meaning Middle English Midland Modern English modified mutation neuter new-formations nominative noun-pronouns noun-word nouns OE strong Old English Old French originally partic participles personal pronouns phonetic plur plural preceding predicate prefix preposition pres Present English preserved pret preterite preterite-present verbs principal clause pronunciation proper names regarded relation result Scandinavian Second MnE sentence shortened sing singular sometimes sound sound-changes speech spelling spoken language stress strong verbs sub-complex superlative syllable tense tion tive transitive verb tree voice consonant Vowel-change weak form weak verbs weak vowel West-Saxon whence word-group word-order written