Shakespeares Language in Titus Andronicus More possibilities The grammar was not as strict as today. Apart from hard rules rhyme, style and metre could influence the sentence structure: Changing piece Groaning shadows Did you notice... there are rarely any -ing endings Even though the form existed it wasn't actually used. In words the ing occurs 40 times in a Shakespeare text, 120 times in a restauration comedy, and 837 times in modern drama Now or not Now? The present is not exclusively used for the present. Occasionally it is used for the past as well. To top this confusion: Verbs in the 1 st person singular don't have special endings. Tamora: Titus, I am come to see you Shall Shall Shall In the battle of Will and Shall, Shall prevailed. Of course the language of the bible had had its influence on that. In the 17 th century it is still hard to decide whether Shall refers to modality or future. Marcus: Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery. Lucius: And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live Chiron: Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare. Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do The use of do was since the 15 th century constantly increasing. Except for a construction in a positive declarance sentence: Somewhat doth she mean The lifetime of Shakespeare is the only time where do is recognizable used in a positive declarance sentence. Simultaneously questions and imperatives increased up to the modern frequency. Imperative In case of an imperative, the pronoun could follow the verb: In peace and honour rest you here! Hark ye! Inverted Order The usual order of Subject Verb Object can be inverted in early modern english: Verb Object. Chiron: And that would she... Bibliographie Manfred Grlach: Einfhrung ins Frhneuenglische Heidelberg: Charles Barber: Early modern English Edinburgh: 1997.