Preterite-present verbs
Preterite-present verbs, like strong verbs, are characterized by the ablauting of their final root vowel through different tenses and aspects. Unlike strong verbs, main characteristic of preterite-presents is that their present tense declension is identical to the past declension of strong verbs.
Preterite-present verbs are a small but to a degree open class. Most of preterite-present verbs have a modal meaning.
Past tense conjugation of these verbs is identical to the hollow verb past tense conjugation, they too receive a -πΈ- infix in the past. Past tense of preterite-presents uses the past participle vowel grade.
Classification
Preterite-present classes mirror the non-reduplicating classes of strong verbs, but they lack a present vowel: present participles and agentive infinitives therefore use the past participle (4th) vowel grade.
| 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | -π°ΜπΉ- | -πΉ- | -πΉ- | -π΄πΉ- |
| IIa | -π°ΜπΏ- | -πΏ- | -πΏ- | -πΏΜ- |
| IIb | -π°ΜπΏ- | -πΏ- | -πΏ- | -πΏΜ- |
| IIc | -π°πΏ- | -πΏ- | -πΏ- | -πΏΜ- |
| III | -π°- | -πΏ- | -πΏ- | -π΄πΉ- |
| IV | -π°- | -π΄- | -πΏ- | -π΄- |
| V | -π°- | -π΄- | -πΉ- | -π΄- |
| VI | -π- | -π- | -π°- | -π- |
Classes III, IV and V of preterite-presents, like those of the strong verbs, differ based on the final consonant / cluster of the root:
- Final root vowel of class III is followed by a consonant cluster.
- Final root vowel of class IV is followed by a non-cluster sonorant (π, π», πΌ or π½).
- All other roots belong to class V.
For the Gothic speakers: Wistrish preterite-present class mirrors the strong verb class more closely than Gothic or Proto-Germanic preterite-presents do. Some forms therefore differ between Wistrish and Gothic.