1.3. root-stem nouns
In Proto-Germanic (like in Gothic), this class of nouns was characterized by the addition of case endings immediately to the roots of the nouns in question. That is, nouns of this type did not have any stem-forming suffixes and had always had two-morpheme (root + case ending) structure.
The OE root-stem nouns are also characterized by vowel gradation. Consequently, the difference between their case-forms is grammatically marked both by means of case endings and the vocalization of their case and number forms.
|
root-stem nouns, masculine gender
mon
(man) |
||
| singular | plural | |
| nominative | mon, monn | men, menn |
| genitive | monnes | monna |
| dative (instrumental) | men, menn | mannum |
| accusative | mon, monn | men, menn |
short-stemmed version: hnut-
|
root-stem nouns, feminine gender
hnutu
(nut) |
||
| singular | plural | |
| nominative | hnutu | hnyte |
| genitive | hnute | hnuta |
| dative (instrumental) | hnyte | hnutum |
| accusative | hnutu | hnyte |
long-stemmed version: bóc-
|
root-stem nouns, feminine gender
bóc
(book) |
||
| singular | plural | |
| nominative | bóc | béc |
| genitive | béc, bóce | bóca |
| dative (instrumental) | béc | bócum |
| accusative | bóc | béc |
Although the class of root-stem nouns in the OE incuded a very small number of nouns, this type of form building is the most well preserved in the Mod E: cf foot – feet, goose – geese, louse – lice, man – men, mouse – mice, tooth – teeth.
