Changes in the functions of combinations of the participle II with the verbs beon, wesan, weorthan (on the example of English written monuments of the IX-XIV centuries)

Drugoveiko N. A.

The article discusses the changes in the functions of the combinations of the participle II with the verbs beon, wesan, weorthan on the example of written monuments of the IX-XIV centuries. In the paradigm of the present and past tenses, these verbs could compete with each other. Most often, the verb wesan was used only with participles like nemned, gehaten. When studying the texts of the IX century, it turned out that the combination "participle II +wesan" was rarely used and could indicate both the quality or a permanent sign of a subject, and the state achieved as a result of the previous action. By the X century, this feature becomes common for the combination of "participle II+beon". In parallel with this, wesan interacts with the combination with beon, gradually beginning to be used with a large number of verbs. The author comes to the conclusion that by the end of the XIV century, during this redistribution, the combination "participle II + wesan" displaces the verb beon from the present tense into the framework of the subjunctive mood. It is noted that beon is preserved in it at the moment of language development. The disappearance of the combination "participle II+weorthan" in the English language is explained, which turns out to be closely related to the process of becoming an analytical form and the unification of the auxiliary verb of the passive.

Keywords:English, verbs beon, wesan, weorthan, participle II, English passive, subjunctive mood, grammatical categories.