Weak verbs correspond to modern English regular verbs. Like regular verbs, they form their past tense by the addition of a ‘d’ or ‘t’. The past tense thus may be recognisable, even if you do not know the verb itself.
Note that the inflexional endings are very similar to those you have already (!) learned for strong verbs. See Mitchell and Robinson, A Guide to Old English for full paradigms of the different classes of weak verbs.
A sample weak verb: lufian to love
Present
| Indicative | Subjunctive | ||
| singular | plural | singular | plural |
| ic lufie | we lufiaþ | ic lufie | we lufien |
| þu lufast | ge lufiaþ | þu lufie | ge lufien |
| he lufaþ | hie lufiaþ | hio lufie | hie lufien |
Imperative
| singular | plural |
| lufa | lufiaþ |
Preterite
| Indicative | Subjunctive | ||
| singular | plural | singular | plural |
| ic lufode | we lufodon | ic lufode | we lufoden |
| þu lufodest | ge lufodon | þu lufode | ge lufoden |
| he lufode | hie lufodon | hio lufode | hie lufoden |
Present Participle lufiende
Past Participle (ge-)lufod
Some Practice:
Even if you don't know the meaning of these verbs, can you tell their tense and number?
| fremme | gewundode |
| neredon | leornast |
| lufode | andswarie |
| sohte | timbriaþ |
| hierþ | lufien |
| tæhte | þuhte |
| neosað | cwelleþ |
Click here for answers.
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Page created by Dr Jennifer Neville |
