how to use thou, thee and thy ?

Question

why we do not use this in modern english ?

Answer 1

They are formal - and we are an increasingly less formal society.

Thou = you (Acting Subject) ie Thou art merciful = You are merciful

Thee = you (Acted upon) ie Bless thee = Bless you

Thy = your ie What is thy will? = What is your will?

Answer 2

Thy Thou

Answer 3

Grammar:

thou (+ verb ending in -(e)st) = subject/actor
thee = object
thy = 'your'
thine= 'yours' (and in place of 'thy' before a vowel)


Meaning & Usage:

*These are not simply equivalents of "you", which can be used for singular or plural. "Thou", etc. is ONLY for the SINGULAR.

*Contrary to what several have suggested, "thee" and "thou" are NOT polite forms. On the contrary, they were the FAMILIAR forms -- the sort you would use in addressing your sweetheart, family member, good friend OR someone considered beneath you on the social scale. For more formal uses the (originally plural) forms "ye, you, your(s)"

(All this can be still be seen in the German relatives -- "du" = "thou", "dein" = "thine", etc. -- singular "familiar" forms. )

http://alt-usage-english.org/pronoun_paradigms.html


History of the forms in Modern English:

These forms actually still persist (though the grammar varies a bit) in a few dialects of English. They were dying out in most English dialects in the 16th century -- the beginning of "Modern English". But BEFORE that happened William Tyndale translated the Bible into English (in the 1520s), and used these forms of the pronouns that were widespread, and standard in his dialect. As the century went on, other Bible translations relied very heavily on Tyndale's work. By the time of the King James Version of 1611 "thee" and "thou" were not in common use, though understood. (Note that Shakespeare at about the same time uses BOTH "thee/thou" and "you" with the same sense.) But the KJV was, in many respects, a revision of the 16th century translations, not a new translation 'from scratch'. So it kept these forms... perhaps esp. because they were used in the Geneva Bible which was so popular with the people (King James, on the other hand didn't like its anti-monarchical footnotes... which is WHY he commissioned the new version!)

The KJV contributed to the continuation of these forms for religious use even in dialects that no longer used the forms otherwise. (This also contributed to the mistaken idea that these forms are more formal or polite.) In fact, some Christian songwriters who use modern Bible translations and say "you" in their prayers, like to use "thee" in song -- at least at the end of lines, because it is MUCH easier to rhyme than "you" is!

Also, these familiar forms can occasionally be found in love songs and poetry. ("How do I love thee?")

One reason that the object form "thee" is more likely to be used than "thou" is that, to use the latter correctly, you have to use the archaic verb forms ("thou art", "thou hast", "thou knowest"....) which people have some trouble getting straight and which just SOUNDS more "archaic".

Answer 4

Have you ever studied French or German? (And probably other languages I don't know)?

Do you remember that in those languages, there was a form of the words "you" and "yours" which you only use for children, close friends and family? "Tu" in French and "Du" in German. And that they are only used where there is one person you are talking to.

The same used to be true in English, indeed when my father was a child in Yorkshire, they still observed the convention that thou, thee, thy and thine were used when you were talking to a pal, someone much younger or a younger family member.

"Thou" was used there we now use "you" as the subject of a sentence - as in "Thou art a daft lad." or "You are a silly boy". Note that the verb has changed as well.

"Thee" was used where we now use "you" as the object of a sentence - as in "She's told thee before" or "She has told you before."

"Thy" was used where we would now use "your" - as in "Move thy big feet out of the way."

"Thine" was used where we use "yours" - as in "Are those books thine?"

Hope that helps.

Answer 5

Thou has asked a difficult question. Thee will notice after hearing such talk thine ears will ring...Thy head will pound!!! it's just NOT for us, who are used to slang. u can make it ur group of friend's language

Answer 6

Thou is subjective you (You are ...); thee is objective you (for you); thy is your. As for why we don't use them today, I don't know. There really doesn't seem to be a need, I guess, when you and your will do.

Answer 7

Thou hast caused me much grief with thine qustion. See to that thou doeth not let it happen again. As I shall smite thee with the jawbone of an ***.

Answer 8

The evolution of language. As new words become added into the language or substituted, the language becomes more conversational as opposed to proper.

Answer 9

They are singular, familiar terms. So you would use them for one person whom you know well or is of a lower station than you.

Answer 10

That was good back in it's day, but let's move on to YO!