![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
There are three classes of weak verbs in Old English. These verbs form their preterite and past participle by adding a dental suffix. Click for:
Present Indicative | fremman | nerian | hieran |
---|---|---|---|
(a) | (a) | (b) | |
Sg. 1 | fremme | nerie | hiere |
2 | fremest | nerest | hierst |
3 | fremeþ | nereþ | hierþ |
Pl. | fremmaþ | neriaþ | hieraþ |
Imperative | |||
Sg. | freme | nere | hier |
Pl. | fremmaþ | neriaþ | hieraþ |
Present Subjunctive | |||
Sg. | fremme | nerie | hiere |
Pl. | fremmen | nerien | hieren |
Preterite Indicative | |||
Sg. 1 | fremede | nerede | hierde |
2 | fremedest | neredest | hierdest |
3 | fremede | nerede | hierde |
Pl. | fremedon | neredon | hierdon |
Preterite Subjunctive | |||
Sg. | fremede | nerede | hierde |
Pl. | fremeden | nereden | hierden |
Infl. Inf | to fremmenne | to nerienne | to hierenne |
Pres. Ptc. | fremmende | neriende | hierende |
Past Ptc. | (ge)fremed | (ge)nered | (ge)hiered |
Infinitive | lufian | |
Present Indicative | Preterite Indicative | |
---|---|---|
Sg. 1 | lufie | lufode |
Sg. 2 | lufast | lufodest |
Sg. 3 | lufaþ | lufode |
Pl. | lufiaþ | lufodon |
Present Subjunctive | Preterite Subjunctive | |
Sg. | lufie | lufode |
Pl. | lufien | lufoden |
Imperative | ||
Sg. | ||
Pl. | ||
Inflected Infinitive | ||
Present Participle | Past Participle | |
lufiende | (ge)lufod |
Present Indicative | habban | hycgan |
---|---|---|
Sg. 1 | hæbbe | hycge |
2 | hæfst hafast | hygst hogast |
3 | hæfþ hafaþ | hygþ hogaþ |
Pl | habbaþ | hycgaþ |
Present Subjunctive | ||
Sg | hæbbe | hycge |
Pl | hæbben | hycgen |
Imperative | ||
Sg. | hafa | hoga, hyge |
Pl. | habbaþ | hycgaþ |
Preterite Indicative | ||
Sg. | hæfde | hog(o)de |
Pl. | hæfdon | hog(o)don |
Preterite Subjunctive | ||
Sg. | hæfde | hog(o)de |
Pl. | hæfden | hog(o)den |
Some weak verbs change their stem vowel in the preterite and past participle, as well as adding
a dental suffix. A modern English example is seek, which becomes sought in the
past. The following is a brief table of the most important exceptions:
Infinitive | Preterite Sg. | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
secan "seek" | sohte | soht |
sellan "give" | sealde | seald |
cwellan "kill" | cwealde | cweald |
þencan "think" | þohte | þoht |
brengan "bring" | brohte | broht |
þyncan "seem" | þuhte | þuht |
bycgan "buy" | bohte | boht |
wyrcan "work" | worhte | worht |
Return to the top of this page
|[ HOME ]|[ Course Information ]|[ Lessons ]|[ Texts ]|[ Grammar ]|[ Credit Exercises ]|[ Links ]|[ Site Index ]|
Contact: Murray McGillivray at mmcgilli@acs.ucalgary.ca or the Listserv at mailto:eg401-m@acs.ucalgary.ca