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

Attributive Clauses

These are introduced either by the relative pronoun pe or by the pronoun se, which from a demonstrative acquired a relative meaning, or by the compound pronoun sepe. Here are examples of each variety: swiðe feawa wæron behionan Humbre, ðe hiora ðeninʒa cuðen understondan on enʒlisc 'very few were on this side of the Humber who could understand their service in English'; ða wæs on pa tid AEðelbyrht cyninʒ haten on Centrice and mihtiʒ, se hæfde rice oð ʒemæro Humbro streames 'there was at this time a king called Athelbyrht in Kent and a mighty one, who had his kingdom as far as the river Humber'; he ʒewunade ʒerisen-lice leoð wyrcan pa de to æfestnisse ond to arfæstnisse belumpon 'he was wont to compose proper songs which belonged to religion and to piety'.