I. Morphological Classification of Old English Verbs

Strong

Weak

Minor groups

Seven classes with different gradation series

Three classes with different stem-suffixes

Preterite-present verbs

Suppletive

Anomalous

Classes

infinitive

Past Singular

Past Plural

Participle II

NE

1

Wri:tan

Wra:t

Wr:ton

writen

write

2

(a) ce:osan

(b) bu:gan

Ce:as

Be:a9

Curon

bu9on

Coren

bo9en

Choose

bow

3

Findan

Helpan

feohtan

Fand

Healp

feaht

Fundon

Hulpon

fuhton

Funden

Holpen

fohten

Find

Help

fight

4

beran

baer

Bae:ron

boren

bear

5

Cweðan

sittan

Cwae:ð

saet

Cwa:edon

Sae:ton

Cweden

seten

Say (quoth)

sit

6

scacan

Sco:c

Sco:con

scacen

shake

7

Ha:tan

Gro:wan

He:t

(heht)

gre:ow

He”ton

Gre:owon

Haten

Gro:wen

Call, name

grow

Classes

Infinitive

Past tense

Participle II

NE

1

-an/-ian

-de/-ede/-te

-ed/-d/-t

Styrian

Temman

De:man

Ce:pan

Tellan

þyncan

Styrede

Temede

De:mde

Ce:pte

Tealde

þuhte

Styred

Temed

De:med

Ce:ped

Teald

þuht

Stir

Tame

Deem

Keep

Tell

think

II

-ian

lo”cian

-ode

lo:code

-od

lo:cod

look

III

-an

libban

habban

-de

lifde

haefde

-d

lifd

haefd

Live

have

Infinitive

Sing. Present

Plu. Present

Past

Witan (know)

wat

winton

Wisse/wiste

Present Indic.

Subjunc.

Inmperative

Past

1. wri:te

2. wri”test

3. wri:teþ

Pl. wri:taþ

Wri:te

Wri”t

Wra:t Subjunctive

Wri:te

War:t write

Pl. writon writen