Class IV Strong Verbs

Class IV verbs have a (vowel + l/r) in their infinitive. For example, 'beran - to bear' or 'stelan - to steal'. When they conjugate, they follow the vowel change pattern e - æ - ǣ (with the macron included here indicating that it is a long vowel). So the root vowel in the present is 'e', the root vowel in the past first and third person singular is 'æ', and the root vowel in the second past and past plural is 'æ'. For example, 'ic cwele - I die', becomes 'ic cwæl - I died' or 'hie cwælon - they died'. Examine the verb 'beran - to bear' in the sentence, 'heo gar birþ - she carries a spear' and 'heo gar bær - she carried a spear'.

There are two verbs which are considered Class IV verbs but which differ from the regular pattern of most verbs in this class: 'niman - to take' and 'cuman - to come'. They are classified as Class IV verbs because they were regular in Proto-Germanic, but became irregular by the time they entered Old English. These are two commonly used verbs so it is important to recognise their forms when you come across them in Old English texts. The vowel in both verbs becomes 'o' in the past singular and 'o' in the past plural.

Aside from the two irregular Class IV verbs 'niman' and 'cuman', all other Class IV verbs should be straightforward to conjugate. A number of these verbs are still recognisable as the ancestors of modern English strong verbs such as steal/stole or bear/bore. You can practice them below.