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

Conditional Clauses

These are introduced by a conjunction ʒif ‘if’ or sometimes næfne ‘unless’: he me habban wille dreore fahne, ʒif mec deað nime 'he will have me bloody if death takes me'; nis pæt seld-ʒuma wæpnum ʒ eweorðad, næfne his wille leoʒe, ænlie ansyn 'this is not a lower man, worthy of weapons, unless his face lies; his unique countenance'.

Clauses of Concession

These are introduced by the conjunction peah (pe), e. g. pone sið fæt him snotere ceorlas lyt-hwon loʒon, peah he him leof wære 'this voyage clever men somewhat blamed on him, though he was liked by them'.