* Basic and common: These words are used frequently and their meaning is essential for communication. Examples include "I," "you," "he," "she," "it," "this," "that," "and," "but," "or," "not," "be," "have," "do," "say," "come," "go," etc.
* Of Germanic origin: Many of these words have roots in Old English and have been part of the English language for centuries. Examples include "house," "sun," "water," "tree," "bread," "fire," etc.
Here are some examples of words that have likely come into modern English unchanged:
* Pronouns: Most personal pronouns (like "I," "you," "he") have remained consistent for centuries.
* Prepositions: Basic prepositions like "on," "in," "at," "to," "from," etc. have held their meaning and form.
* Basic verbs: Words like "be," "have," "do," "say," "come," "go" are core to our language and have been around for a long time.
* Numbers: Words like "one," "two," "three," etc. have been consistent throughout English history.
Important to note:
* Pronunciation changes: While the spelling of these words may have remained the same, their pronunciation has likely changed over time.
* New meanings: Some words have developed new meanings over time, even if their original form remains.
Therefore, while it's difficult to definitively say which words have come into modern English unchanged, these examples demonstrate how some words have been surprisingly stable over centuries of language evolution.