What language does English come from?

English comes from Proto-Germanic, an extinct language that was spoken by the Germanic tribes who lived in Northern Europe around 2,000 years ago.

Here's a simplified breakdown:

* Proto-Indo-European: The ancestor of most European languages, including English.

* Proto-Germanic: A branch of Proto-Indo-European, spoken by the Germanic tribes.

* Old English: The language spoken in England from roughly 450 to 1150 AD, directly descended from Proto-Germanic.

* Middle English: The language spoken in England from roughly 1150 to 1500 AD, influenced by Norman French following the Norman Conquest.

* Modern English: The language spoken today, with significant influences from Old English, Middle English, and other languages.

So, while English itself isn't spoken anymore, we can trace its origins back to Proto-Germanic and ultimately to Proto-Indo-European.