ABSTRACT
In Old and Middle English grammar it seemed almost a rule for the past participle of an intransitive verb (hereafter abbreviated as PP (vi.)) to take a be-verb (OE beon/wesan) as a perfect auxiliary and for the past participle of a transitive verb (hereafter abbreviated as PP (vt.)) to take habban (> have(n)). 1 This rule can be illustrated by CP(H) 87.23 forðam sio clœnnes bið ðonne to fulbeorhtum wlite becumen and CP(H) 111.15–16 sua he hi hœfð oferstigene mid ðam hliete his anwaides.
