Theme: syntax in oe contents I. Introduction II. Main body. Structural relations of old english

One Member and Elliptical Sentences

Impersonal sentences may be one-member ones, e.g. hu lomp eow in lade? 'how did you fare on your way?'; him on fyrste ʒelomp ædre mid aldum, pæt hit wearp eal-ʒearo 'it soon happened in the right time among men, that is (the building) was quite ready'.The subject of elliptical sentences is to be supplied from the context, e.g. syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden, he paes frofre ʒebad 'since (he) was first found helpless, he lived to see consolation in this'; aledon pa leofne peoden on beartn scipes '(they) laid then their beloved leader on the ship's bosom'. In the former sentence it is clear that the subject of the subordinate clause is the same as that of the main clause. In the latter sentence it becomes clear from the preceding text that the king's attendants are meant.