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

Infinitive Phrases

When an infinitive follows a phrase "verb + substantive or pronoun in the accusative" the substantive and the infinitive form a construction which is usually called "accusative and infinitive". In OE this is still used rather seldom. It is mainly found with verbs of perception: seon 'see', hieran 'hear', ʒefriʒnan 'learn', and also with verbs expressing order or permission, such as hatan 'order', lætan 'let', etc. E.g. ʒeseah he in recede rinca maniʒe, swefan sibbe-ʒedriht 'he saw in the hall many warriors, a friendly troop sleeping'; fyr-leoht ʒeseah, bldcne leoman beorhte sciman 'he saw a fire-light, a glittering flach chine brightly'; ne-hyrde ic cymlicor ceol ʒeʒyrwan 'I did not.hear a more handsome ship constructed'; ic pæt londbuend, leode mine, sele-rædende secʒean hyrde, pæt hie ʒesawon swylce tweʒen micle mearcstapas moras healdan, ellor-ʒæstas 'I heard the inhabitants of the earth, my people, guarding the hall, say that they saw two such great spirits live in the moors, alien sprites'; pa ic wide ʒefræʒn weorc ʒebannan 'I heard that the work was widely proclaimed then'; pone here he let mid pæmscipum ponan wendan 'he told the army to move thence in ships'; let hie syppan faran ham 'he let them afterwards sail home'.