* Old English (c. 450 - 1150): This is the language of Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon England. It's very different from modern English, with a different grammar, vocabulary, and even writing system (using runes).
* Middle English (c. 1150 - 1500): This is the language of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. It's closer to modern English, but still quite different, with a more complex grammar and a lot of vocabulary that's now archaic.
* Early Modern English (c. 1500 - 1800): This is the language of Shakespeare and the King James Bible. It's closer to modern English but still has some vocabulary and grammatical features that have since changed.
* Modern English (c. 1800 - present): This is the language we speak and write today. It's constantly evolving, with new words and phrases being added all the time.
So, what does it mean to say "English is old or modern?"
* **"Old English" is a distinct language, like Latin or Ancient Greek. It's not really "English" in the way we understand it today.
* **"Modern English" is the language we use now, but even within modern English, there are different varieties and dialects. "American English" is slightly different from "British English," for example.
It's important to be aware of the different stages of the English language to understand how the language has evolved and to appreciate the rich history of the language.