“English is not a language, it’s three languages wearing a trench coat pretending to be one.” – Gugulethu Mhlungu The English language did not simply evolve from Old English to Modern English. A lot of different factors had influence on this proces. Think of the Vikings and the French. They influenced the English language and left their mark on it. English is not just a Germanic language, it is one heavily influenced by other languages.
1) What are the differences between Old, Middle and Modern English?
2) Is Modern Dutch more similar to Old, to Middle, or to Modern English, if you look at grammar?
3) Which other European languages had influence on the evolution of English, and what words/structures from these languages can you still find in Modern English?