Final Answer:
As the language changed from Old to Middle to Modern English, many inflections were dropped.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout the evolution of the English language from Old English to Middle English and finally to Modern English, a significant linguistic transformation occurred. One of the most notable changes was the reduction and eventual elimination of inflections.
In Old English, a highly inflected language, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and verbs underwent various grammatical changes to indicate case, gender, number, and tense.
However, as English transitioned into Middle English, the language experienced simplification. Inflections, which had played a crucial role in Old English grammar, began to diminish.
This trend continued into Modern English, where the language adopted a more analytical structure, relying on word order and auxiliary verbs for conveying meaning.
Consequently, the once intricate system of inflections gradually disappeared, making English a more straightforward and streamlined language in terms of grammatical structure.