THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH SYNTAX

Abstract

The article explores the historical development of English syntax, tracing its evolution from Old English to Modern English. It examines key changes in sentence structure, word order, and grammatical patterns over different periods. The study highlights the influence of external factors, such as the Norman Conquest and the Renaissance, as well as internal linguistic dynamics that contributed to syntactic transformations. Special attention is given to the shift from a highly inflected language to a more analytic structure, focusing on the loss of case endings and the rise of fixed word order. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into how historical events and linguistic trends shaped the syntax of contemporary English.