As we noted, there are two types of adjectives in Old English: strong adjectives, which we covered in the previous chapter, and weak adjectives. Almost all Old English adjectives can be either strong or weak, depending on how they are used in a sentence. "Strong" and "weak" are just labels that tell you what ending the adjective takes depending on the case (which, you'll remember, marks the grammatical function) of the noun it is modifying.
| Weak Adjectives do not stand on their own; they come paired with a demonstrative. |
That wise king ruled Wessex.
In the example sentence "wise" is a weak adjective; the demonstrative pronoun "that" is paired with it. "That wise king" forms a single compound subject with all three words in the nominative case.
| Case | Masculine | Neuter | Feminine |
| Nominative | a | e | e |
| Genitive | an | an | an |
| Accusative | an | e | an |
| Dative and Instrumental | an | an | an |
| Case | All Genders |
| Nominative | an |
| Genitive | ra or ena |
| Accusative | an |
| Dative and Instrumental | um |
god = good
| Case | Masculine | Neuter | Feminine |
| Nominative | goda | gode | gode |
| Genitive | godan | godan | godan |
| Accusative | godan | gode | godan |
| Dative and Instrumental | godan | godan | godan |
| Case | All Genders |
| Nominative | godan |
| Genitive | godra or godena |
| Accusative | godan |
| Dative and Instrumental | godum |