Weak verbs Proto-Germanic grammar

1 weak verbs

1.1 suffixless weak verbs
1.2 class 1
1.3 class 2
1.4 class 3
1.5 class 4

weak verbs

weak verbs used suffix containing dental consonant mark past tense. suffix held reflex of reduplicated past imperfect of pie *dheh1- put , in germanic . derived verbs, being formed nouns, verbs or adjectives (so-called denominal, deverbal , deadjectival verbs). few underived verbs strong j-present verbs acquired weak past tenses in proto-germanic.

weak verbs divided 5 main classes, of 4 survived distinct history of daughter languages. 1 class formed few relic verbs have no present-tense suffix, verbs in other classes had present-tense suffix, varied class class. past tense endings identical, , resembled of strong verbs, prefixed dental infix. follows:

the initial consonant of suffix -d-, class 1 j-present verbs, suffixless weak verbs , preterite-present verbs had -t- if ending consonant of stem obstruent, in case obstruent assimilated dental.

suffixless weak verbs

already small relic class in proto-germanic, @ 3 verbs reconstructible: *bringaną bring , *brūkaną need , *būaną dwell . present tense identical present of strong verbs, , past tense formed no linking vowel; third-person singular past indicative forms *branhtē, *brūhtē , *būdē respectively. class did not survive distinct class in daughter language, , verbs moved other classes of verb.

class 1

class 1 consisted of verbs ending in -(i)janą, , has past tense in -id-. present tense suffix varied between -ja/ija- , -i/ī-.

a significant subclass of class 1 weak verbs causative verbs. these formed in way reflects direct inheritance pie causative class of verbs. pie causatives formed adding accented suffix -éye/éyo o-grade of non-derived verb. in proto-germanic, suffix survives -j/ij-, , affixed stem of strong past tense verner s law voicing applied (originally due placement of accent on suffix). examples:

*bītaną (i) bite → *baitijaną bridle, yoke, restrain , i.e. make bite down
*rīsaną (i) rise → *raizijaną raise , i.e. cause rise
*beuganą (ii) bend → *baugijaną bend (transitive)
*brinnaną (iii) burn → *brannijaną burn (transitive)
*frawerþaną (iii) perish → *frawardijaną destroy , i.e. cause perish
*nesaną (v) survive → *nazjaną save , i.e. cause survive
*ligjaną (v) lie down → *lagjaną lay , i.e. cause lie down
*faraną (vi) travel, go → *fōrijaną lead, bring , i.e. cause go
*faraną (vi) travel, go → *farjaną carry across , i.e. cause travel (an archaic instance of o-grade ablaut used despite differing past-tense ablaut)
*grētaną (vii) weep → *grōtijaną cause weep
*lais (i, preterite-present) (s)he knows → *laizijaną teach , i.e. cause know

an example class 1 weak verb *dailijaną divide shown here in present tense. note because of sievers law, there 2 possible endings in present tense. 1 set, 1 shown here, used long stems, , has -ij- , -ī-. other set, used short stems, has -j- , -i-. in past, both sets have -i-.

a few irregular verbs in class j-presents, , had suffix in present tense, analogous strong j-presents. past tense replaced initial -d- -t-, preceding consonant assimilating suffix according germanic spirant law:

class 2

class 2 consisted of verbs ending in -ôną, , had past tense in -ōd-. present tense suffix trimoric -ô-. denominative subclass of class 1, formed nouns ended in -ō. however, because of loss of -j- between vowels, surrounding vowels contracted, creating distinct class. in proto-germanic, new verbs of class had begun formed nouns of other classes. later become primary denominative class in of daughter languages.

the verb *salbôną anoint given here example. notice because of vowel contraction, indicative , subjunctive have become alike.

class 3

this class had 2 subclasses, different in forms, shared suffix -ai- in some. 2 subclasses merged 1 in later languages reasons not quite clear, presumably fact shared endings may have had it.

the first , larger subclass had infinitive in -(i)janą , past tense in -d- no linking vowel (but no assimilation either). present tense suffix varied between -ja/ija- , -ai-. these verbs statives. verb *sagjaną shown here. class 1 weak verbs, -j- varied -ij- depending on length of stem.

the second subclass had infinitive in -āną , past tense in -ād-, -ā- having contracted earlier -aja- after loss of intervocalic -j-. present tense suffix varied between -ā- , -ai-. these verbs factitives, similar first class of weak verbs. small class in proto-germanic, though may have remained marginally productive. verb *þewāną enslave shown here.

class 4

this class has been notoriously difficult reconstruct, details known. infinitive ended in -naną, , past tense formed -nōd-. present tense forms uncertain, varied between -ō- , -a-. these verbs inchoatives, , indicated change of state or process of coming state. result, intransitive, , had no passive forms or past participle. verb *liznaną learn given here, note these reconstructions uncertain.