THE VERB IN OLD ENGLISH

There are four types of verbs in OE:

a. strong: where the changes in tense are characterized by changes in the vowel of the root syllable
according to a fixed series; these changes are known as ablaut or gradation
(7 classes of strong verbs according to the pattern of gradation)

e. g. ridan, rad, ridon, (ge)riden (to ride); rinnan, rann, runnon, (ge)runnen (to run)
creopan- creap- crupon- cropen

b. weak: where the change of tense is shown by the addition of a suffix containing d, t, (further
subdivided into three classes depending on the stem to which the suffix was attached)

e. g. fyllan, fylde, (ge)fylled; lufian, lufode, gelufod

The opposition strong/weak in OE is parallel to the opposition irregular/ regular in MnE. The tendency
towards eliminating strong verbs altogether (e.g. hang, hung/hanged)

c. preterit- present: where old preterit forms have the meaning of a present tense and new
preterit forms have been created according to weak types
e. g. sceal (I shall, I must)- preterit :sce(o)lde (I had to etc)- inf. sculan
cann (I can)- pret. cue (I could)- inf. cunnan
mot vs moste- inf. motan
mg vs. meahte inf magan

other present- pret verbs: witan (to know), agan (to own)

d. anomalous: wesan/beon, willan, nyllan, don (to do), gan (to go)

The Characteristics of the Verb

We call principal parts of the verbs the infinitive, the 1st/3d sg pret ind, the pl. pret indic and the past
participle. So the standard form of an OE verb:

singan- sang (1st preterit)- sungon (2nd preterit)- sungen

1. No & Pers
2 no s sg and pl; Indicative- The three persons are distinguished only in the sg; there is only one pl.
Subjunctive- there are no person distinctions in the sg or pl in the subjunctive (singe/singen).

2. Voice
There is only one voice- the active. The only remnants of an unaccomplished passive are : hatte- is
called, was called, am called/ hatton (pl).

3. Tense
There are only two tenses distinguished in form. Present and Preterit. Habban and Wesan are used s
auxiliary verbs, in order to form a perfect tense.

4. Mood

Infinitive: - an; there is also an inflected infinitive: eg ridan- to ridanne (inflected). The inflected
infinitive is used to express purpose or to define an adj:
Manige comon to bycgenne a ing (many came in order to buy that)

Indicative vs Subjunctive (same distinction as in MnE, the Subj expresses a wish in main clauses and is
mostly used in dependant clauses)

Participle- present part/ vs/ past part (- ende/ (ge)-en, -d, -t, -
lufian- lufiende/ gelufod

5. Negation

The negative particle ne is placed bef the verb. It sometimes drops the vowel to combine with verbs/
pronouns beginning with h/w:
willan/ nyllan, habban- nabban (to have not), ns (I was not), neom (I am not)

6. Interrogation

Questions are mainly expressed by placing the subject after the verb. (see distinction OE/MnE)

Examples of conjugation:
- weak verb (fremman)- Indic pres, pret; Subj pre, pret; Imperative; Infinitive (2 forms);
Participle
- strong verb (singan)
- anomalous verb- the verb to be (compulsory!!!)

Students will be required to be able to conjugate a strong or a weak verb in the present, to recognize all
verbal forms, to know the verb to be, to distinguish among the above classes of verbs and give
examples. Stress on the distinction between pl and sg forms.
THE CONJUGATION OF OE VERBS

Strong verbs:

bindan- band- bundon- gebunden (to bind)

Pres ind. Pres subj Imperative
I sg Binde Sg Binde Sg bind
II sg Bindest Pl Binden pl binda
II sg Binde
Pl Binda Infinitive bindan
to bindanne
Pret ind Pret Subj Pres part bindende
I sg Band Sg Bunde
II sg Bunde pl Bunden
Past part gebunden
III sg Band
Pl Bundon

Weak verbs:

deman-demede- gedemed (to judge)

Pres ind. Pres subj Imperative
I sg Deme Sg Deme Sg Dem
II sg Demst Pl Demen Pl Dema
II sg Dem
Pl Dema Infinitive Deman
To demenne
Pret ind Pret Subj Pres part Demende
I sg Demde Sg Demde
II sg Demdest pl demden
Past part Gedemed
III sg Demde
Pl Demdon

wesan (vs beon)

Pres. ind: eom

eart Pres subj: sie, sien Pres part: wesende
is
sind(on)/sint Pret subj: wre, wren Infinitive: wesan
Pret ind.: ws
wre
ws
wron Imperative: wes, wesa