Bowie, Jill; Aarts, Bas; (2025) Recent Grammatical Change in English. In: Beal, Joan C, (ed.) The New Cambridge History of the English Language, Volume III: Transmission, Change and Ideology. (pp. 505-535). Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.

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Abstract

This chapter surveys the field of recent grammatical change in English. We focus on the period since 1900 but also discuss how certain recent changes relate to longer-term trends. Many of our examples involve the verb phrase or verbal complementation, but changes in other areas such as the noun phrase are also noted. We address methodological issues that arise in researching recent change, considering the various kinds of corpora available and the complexities involved in tracking grammatical change over time. We then discuss how patterns of change vary between spoken and written language and across different genres. Finally, we consider a range of possible explanations or motivations for change, including grammaticalisation, economy and social influences.

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