近代英语是从1500年开始使用的英语，这个时期的英语在语法方面不像中古英语变化激烈，但是词汇量却大大增加。
近代英语文选
下文節錄自《奧賽羅》（Othello），莎士比亞著於1603年
Iago: Though in the trade of Warre I haue slaine men, Yet do I hold it very stuffe o'th' conscience To do no contriu'd Murder: I lacke Iniquitie Sometime to do me seruice. Nine, or ten times I had thought t'haue yerk'd him here vnder the Ribbes. Othello: 'Tis better as it is.
早期近代英語
載自美國獨立宣言，1776年，托马斯·傑佛遜著
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
近代英語
古英语
中古英语
现代英语
