Class I Strong Verbs
Class I verbs have an (i + consonant) in the root of the verb. When they conjugate to form the past tense, they follow the vowel change pattern ī - ā - i (with the macrons included here indicating the long vowels). This means that the root vowel in the present is 'i', the root vowel in the past first and third person singular is 'a', and the root vowel in the past second person singular and pural is 'i'. So 'ic bite - I bite', becomes 'ic bat - I bit' or 'hie biton - they bit'.
In addition to the root vowel change when forming the past tense, Strong Verbs also conjugate for person and number. In fact, they have the same forms as Weak Verbs in the present tense. Examine the verb 'writan' in: 'Þu writst mid þinum fingre on ðære eorþan - You write on the earth with your finger' and 'We writaþ be ðæm leode - We write about the people'. You should recognise the suffixes.
Subject
Verb
Prep.
Possessive
Object
Prep.
Demon.
Object
Subject
Verb
Prep.
Demon.
Object
It is when we come to the past tense that Strong Verbs differ from Weak Verbs. Notice that there has been a vowel change from 'ic write' to 'ic wrat'. As you can see in the following sentences, there are different vowel changes for the third person singular and plural past forms.
Subject
Verb
Prep.
Possessive
Object
Prep.
Demon.
Object
Subject
Verb
Prep.
Demon.
Object
In addition to the usual inflectional endings in present tense, and the vowel changes specific to strong verbs, there is one other letter change you need to watch out for with Class I Strong Verbs. If a verb has an eth (ð) or a thorn (þ) after the vowel, then this letter changes to a 'd' in the past tense when a suffix is added. For example, 'hie sniþaþ - they cut' and 'hie liþaþ - they travel' become 'hie snidon' and 'hie lidon' in the past tense. This shift is caused by a sound change known as Verners Law.
| Strong Verbs Class I | ||||
| Present Tense | Past Tense | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Person Singular | Ic bite | Ic bat | ||
| 2nd Person Singular | Þu bitst | Þu bite | ||
| 3rd Person Singular | He/Hit/Heo bit | He/Hit/Heo bat | ||
| Plural | We/Ge/Hie bitaþ | We/Ge/Hie biton | ||
| Participles | bitende | (ge)biten | ||
| Strong Verbs Class I | ||||
| Present Tense | Past Tense | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Person Singular | Ic write | Ic wrat | ||
| 2nd Person Singular | Þu writst | Þu write | ||
| 3rd Person Singular | He/Hit/Heo writ | He/Hit/Heo wrat | ||
| Plural | We/Ge/Hie writaþ | We/Ge/Hie writon | ||
| Participles | writende | (ge)writen) | ||
| Strong Verbs Class I | ||||
| Present Tense | Past Tense | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Person Singular | Ic ripe | Ic rap | ||
| 2nd Person Singular | Þu ripst | Þu ripe | ||
| 3rd Person Singular | He/Hit/Heo ripþ | He/Hit/Heo rap | ||
| Plural | We/Ge/Hie ripaþ | We/Ge/Hie ripon | ||
| Participles | ripende | (ge)ripen) | ||
| Strong Verbs Class I | ||||
| Present Tense | Past Tense | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Person Singular | Ic sniþe | Ic snaþ | ||
| 2nd Person Singular | Þu snist | Þu snide | ||
| 3rd Person Singular | He/Hit/Heo sniþ | He/Hit/Heo snaþ | ||
| Plural | We/Ge/Hie sniþaþ | We/Ge/Hie snidon | ||
| Participles | sniþende | (ge)sniden) | ||
| Strong Verbs Class I | ||||
| Present Tense | Past Tense | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Person Singular | Ic liþe | Ic laþ | ||
| 2nd Person Singular | Þu list | Þu lide | ||
| 3rd Person Singular | He/Hit/Heo liþ | He/Hit/Heo laþ | ||
| Plural | We/Ge/Hie liþaþ | We/Ge/Hie lidon | ||
| Participles | liþende | (ge)liden | ||
There are several changes between present and past to keep track of in Strong Verbs, but notice that for Class I Strong Verbs the 1st person singular present and 2nd person singular past are the same (for the verbs not affected by Verner's Law). The 1st and 3rd person past are always the same and the plural past has the same form for first, second and third person past. You can practice Class I Strong Verbs below.
Return to Strong Verbs Pronunciation Guide Continue to Strong Verbs II