Demonstrative Pronouns
The two forms introduced here are se and þes. They correspond with the Modern English words 'the', 'that', and 'this'.
se is a definite article, meaning the same as Modern English
'the' or 'that' (except that there is no concept of a difference
between our 'the' and 'that').
þes corresponds well to 'this'.
Although 'the' does not change in Modern English according to its use
(eg: The man gives the dogs to the child), 'that' does (eg: That man
gives those dogs to them).
It should not be surprising that the form of se changes as well.
Note that the plural form for both se and þes is common to all genders and is listed in the right-hand column of the tables below; the other columns are all singular forms.
Demonstrative Pronoun sé
sé | Masculine | Neuter | Feminine | Plural |
Nominative |
sé |
þæt |
séo/sío |
þá |
Accusative |
þone |
þæt |
þá |
þá |
Genitive |
þæs |
þæs |
þære |
þára |
Dative |
þæm/þam |
þæm/þam |
þære |
þæm/þam |
Demonstrative Pronoun þes
þes | Masculine | Neuter | Feminine | Plural |
Nominative |
þes |
þis |
þeos |
þás |
Accusative |
þisne |
þis |
þás |
þás |
Genitive |
þisses |
þisses |
þisse |
þissa |
Dative |
þissum |
þissum |
þisse |
þissum |
Tips for learning:
- the genitive masculine and neuter are identical
- the dative masculine and neuter (and dative plural) are identical (and end in -m)
- the nominative and accusative neuter are identical
- the genitive and dative feminine are identical (and end in -e)
- the accusative feminine is identical to nominative and accusative plural
- the genitive plural ends in -a
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