LoginArchaic Verb Conjugation
Explore advanced uses of old verb forms in historical texts. Comprehensive explanations, exercises, and a quiz.
Many forms used in Early Modern English are now obsolete, but we still encounter some old forms in old texts such as Shakespeare, the King James Bible, and in archaisms.
Archaic Conjugation of 'Be'
'Be' was and still is an irregular verb. In the table below, you can see the different forms of 'be' as it was used in the old English:
As you can see the only difference between the archaic conjugation and the modern version is in the second person singular. Take a look at the following examples:
Unworthy though thou art, I'll cope with thee / And do some service to Duke Humphrey's ghost.
Unworthy though you are, I'll cope with you / And do some service to Duke Humphrey's ghost.
When thou wert regent for our sovereign...
When you were regent for our sovereign...
Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art.
Unless you were more loyal than you are.
Archaic Conjugation of Other Irregular Verbs
Here are the conjugations of some common verbs that have irregular forms:
The Verb 'Have'
Present Tense | Past Tense | |
|---|---|---|
Thou | hast | hadst |
He, She, It | hath | had |
For example:
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness! For thou hast given me in this beautiful face
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness! For you have given me in this beautiful face
I thought thou hadst been resolute.
I thought you had been resolute.
He hath greatest cause.
He has greatest cause.
The Verb 'Do'
Present Tense | Past Tense | |
|---|---|---|
Thou | dost | didst |
He, She, It | doth | did |
Check out these examples:
If thou dost love thy lord, banish the canker of ambitious thoughts;
If you do love thy lord, banish the canker of ambitious thoughts;
When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.
When you did ride in triumph through the streets.
My troublous dreams this night doth make me sad.
My troublous dreams this night do make me sad.
The Verb 'See'
Present Tense | Past Tense | |
|---|---|---|
Thou | seest | sawest |
He, She, It | seeth | saw |
Consider the following examples:
Thou seest I am pacified.
you see I am pacified.
Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands
you saw till that a stone was cut out without hands
The Lord seeth not as man seeth.
The Lord sees not as man sees.
Archaic Conjugation of Modals
you shall | thou shalt |
|---|---|
you will | thou wilt |
you would | thou wouldst |
you can | thou canst |
you might | thou mightst |
you may | thou mayest |
Here are some examples:
Thou shalt find me tractable to any honest reason.
You shall find me tractable to any honest reason.
Thou wouldst have me answer to.
You would have me answer to.
When thou mayest tell thy tale the nearest way?
When you may tell your tale the nearest way?
Archaic Conjugation of Regular Verbs
For the Third-Person Singular
All regular verbs had a different form in the third person singular form. The suffix -eth [əθ] was added to them.
This suffix has become the modern -s, for example, 'he sleepeth' has become 'he sleeps,' 'he runneth' has become 'he runs.'
he maketh = he makes
he goeth = he goes
he sayeth = he says
It maketh me to think.
It makes me think.
...traveling in the highway that goeth to Herne...
...traveling in the highway that goes to Herne...
Love thy neighbor, sayeth the Lord.
Love your neighbor, says the Lord.
For the Second-Person
Another different form occurs with the archaic second-person singular verbs. They have the suffix '-est' attached to them.
thou makest = you make
thou goest = you go
thou sayest = you say
Thou makest the triumviry...
You make the triumvirate...
Thou goest to Coventry...
You go to Coventry...
Thou villain, what sayest thou?
You villain, what say you?
In all other verbs, the past tense is formed by the simple past form of the word (e.g. made, walked, listened) plus -st, for example:
thou listenedst = you listened
Warning
All examples featured in this lesson are extracted from 'Complete Works of William Shakespeare' and 'The Bible.'
Review
Archaic verbs are the former conjugation of verbs that are used in historic contents. The following verbs have archaic conjugation in English.
be (second person)
modals
see (second and third person)
do (second and third person)
have (second and third person)
regular verbs (second and third person)
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