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Gothic verbs

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Gothic verbs have the most complex conjugation of any attested Germanic language. Most categories reconstructed for the Proto-Germanic verb system are preserved in Gothic. Knowledge of the Proto-Germanic verb is itself to a large degree based on Gothic, meaning that its reconstruction may be fragmentary.

In conjugations, note that stem-final -b- /β/ and -d- /ð/ change spelling and pronunciation to become -f /ɸ/ and -þ /θ/ respectively at the end of a word. Stem final -g- /ɣ/ also presumably became /x/, but the spelling does not change. Similarly, verb stems ending in -ái-, -áu-, -ē-, -iu-, and -ō- become -aj-, -aw, -ai-, -iw, and -au- respectively, before vowels. Expected *áij, *áuw, and *iuw are always simplified into ái, áu, and iu (respectively).

Voice

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Passive voice

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Gothic retains a morphological passive voice inherited from the Indo-European medio-passive, but only in the present indicative and optative (the past tense uses periphrasis).[1] This contrasts a present tense such as gibada ("is being given") with a past tense gibans was* ("was given, has been given").[2] In other Germanic languages, there are only rare survivals of the morphological passive, such as Old English hātte ("am called").[2] The Gothic infinitive did not indicate active or passive voice and is sometimes employed to translate Greek passive infinitives.[3]

In the attested corpus of Gothic, passive forms are frequent only in the third person,[4] and for weak verbs, mostly in class 1.[5] The periphrastic passive consists of a participle, which agrees with the subject in gender and number, and a helping verb. The helping verb varies by aspect: wisan ("to be") creates a stative passive (gibans was*, "was given, has been given"), whereas the verb wairþan ("to become") creates an inchoative passive (gibans warþ, "came to be given, got given").[6]

Class four weak verbs (infinitive in -nan) are agentless and do not take passive forms;[7] they are used to translate Greek passives, and are sometimes referred to as passive as well, although this is not strictly correct.[8]

Strong verbs

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Germanic language strong verbs are verbs that change the vowel in the stem to form the past and past participle, rather than add a suffix. For an English example, contrast fall-fell-fallen (strong) from fell-felled (weak).

The following is a table of all the different types and subtypes of strong verbs.

Strong verb classes Stem vowel
Class Subclass General Past 1 Past 2 Past Participle
1 ei ái i, aí (before h, ƕ, r)
2 2a iu áu u, aú (before h, ƕ, r)
2b ū
3 i, aí (before h, ƕ, r) a u, aú (before h, ƕ, r)
4 4a i, aí (before h, ƕ, r) a ē u, aú
4b u, aú (before h, ƕ, r)
5 i, aí (before h, ƕ, r) a ē i, aí (before h, ƕ, r)
6 a ō a
7 7a C+a, ā, ái, au, áu, ē, or ō CaíC+infinitive vowel same as infinitive
7b C+ai, ē CaíCō same as infinitive

The "general" stem is used for the present tense, infinitive and imperative. The "past 1" stem is used for the past tense indicative singular, and the "past 2" is used for the dual and plural indicative past as well as the past optative past in all numbers.

Classes 5 and 6 have a small subclass of verbs that use the consonant suffix -j- in the general form, but drop it elsewhere

Reduplicating/ Class 7 strong verbs that begin with a vowel simply add aí- as a prefix, without adding a consonant to reduplicate or separate the "aí" prefix from the stem vowel.

The following strong verbs are extant in Gothic:

  • Class 1: beidan "to await" (báiþ), beitan "to bite", digan "to knead", dreiban "to drive" (dráif), greipan "to seize", hneiwan "to bow", bileiban "to remain" (biláif), ga-leiþan "to go", urreisan "to arise", skeinan "to shine", disskreitan "to rend", gasmeitan "to smear", sneiþan "to cut", speiwan "to spit", steigan "to ascend", sweiban "to cease" (swáif), weipan "to crown", inweitan "to worship";
  • Class 1, before h, ƕ, r: leiƕan "to lend", ga-teihan "to tell", þeihan "to thrive", þreihan "to press upon", weihan "to fight";
  • Class 2a: ana-biudan "to bid" (anabáuþ), biugan "to bend", driugan "to serve as a soldier", driusan "to fall", giutan "to pour", hiufan "to mourn", dishniupan "to break asunder", kiusan "to test", kriustan "to gnash"; liudan "to grow" (láuþ), liugan "to lie", fraliusan "to lose", niutan "to enjoy", siukan "to be sick", af-skiuban "to push aside" (afskáuf), sliupan "to slip", usþriutan "to trouble";
  • Class 2a, before h, ƕ, r: tiuhan "to lead", þliuhan "to flee";
  • Class 2b: galūkan "to shut";
  • Class 3: bindan "to bind", bliggwan "to beat", brinnan "to burn", drigkan "to drink", filhan "to hide", finþan "to find", usgildan "to repay", duginnan "to begin", hilpan "to help", frahinþan "to capture", aflinnan "to depart", rinnan "to run", siggwan "to sing", sigqan "to sink", fraslindan "to swallow up", spinnan "to spin", stigqan "to thrust", swiltan "to die", ana-trimpan "to tread on", atþinsan "to attract", þriskan "to thresh", wilwan "to rob", windan "to wind", winnan "to suffer", gawrisqan "to bear fruit";
  • Class 3, before h, ƕ, r: baírgan "to keep", ufgaírdan "to gird up", ƕaírban "to walk", afswaírban "to wipe out", gaþaírsan "to wither", waírpan "to throw", waírþan "to become";
  • Class 4a: brikan "to break", niman "to take", qiman "to come", stilan "to steal", ga-timan "to suit";
  • Class 4a, before h, ƕ, r: baíran "to bear", ga-taíran "to destroy";
  • Class 4b: trudan "to tread";
  • Class 5: diwan "to die" (dáu), fitan "to travail in birth", giban "to give" (gaf), bi-gitan "to find", hlifan "to steal", ligan "to lie down", lisan "to gather", mitan "to measure", ganisan "to be saved", niþan "to help", qiþan "to say", rikan "to heap up", sitan "to sit", sniwan "to hasten" (snáu), gawidan "to bind" (gawaþ), gawigan "to shake down", wisan "to be, remain", wrikan "to persecute";
  • Class 5, j-present: bidjan "to pray"
  • Class 5, irregular: fraíƕnan "to ask"; itan "to eat";
  • Class 5; before h, ƕ, r: saíƕan "to see";
  • Class 5; before h, ƕ, r; -n- present: fraíhnan "to ask";
  • Class 6: alan "to grow", usanan "to expire", ga-daban "to beseem" (gadōf), ga-draban "to hew out" (ga-drōf), ga-dragan "to heap up", faran "to go", graban "to dig" (grōf), af-hlaþan "to lade", malan "to grind", sakan "to rebuke", skaban "to shave" (skōf), slahan "to smite", swaran "to swear", þwahan "to wash", wakan "to wake";
  • Class 6, -j- present: fraþjan "to understand", hafjan "to raise", hlahjan "to laugh", ga-raþjan "to count", ga-skapjan "to create", skaþjan "to injure", wahsjan "to grow";
  • Class 6, irregular: standan "to stand" (stōþ);
  • Class 7a; -a- present: us-alþan "to grow old", blandan "to mix", falþan "to fold", gaggan "to go" (past supplied by iddja), haldan "to hold", anapraggan "to oppress", saltan "to salt", gastaldan "to possess", waldan "to rule";
  • Class 7a; -ā- present: fāhan "to seize", hāhan "to hang";
  • Class 7a; -ái- present: afáikan "to deny", fráisan "to tempt", háitan "to call", láikan "to leap", máitan "to cut", skáidan "to divide" (skaískáiþ), gaþláihan "to cherish, comforẗ";
  • Class 7a; -ē- present: uf-blēsan "to blow up, puff up", slēpan "to sleep";
  • Class 7a; -ō- present: blōtan "to worship", *flōkan "to bewail", ƕōpan "to boast";
  • Class 7a; -au- present: *lauan "to revile" (*laílō); possibly also *bnauan "to rub", which may be a Class III weak verb (see below);
  • Class 7a; -áu- present: áukan "to add", hláupan "to leap", stáutan "to smite";
  • Class 7b; -ē- present: grētan "to weep", lētan "to let", garēdan "to reflect upon" (garaírōþ), tēkan "to touch";
  • Class 7b; -ai- present: saian "to sow", *waian "to blow".

The following is a sample paradigm of a strong verb, niman "to take" (Class 4):

Strong verb conjugation
Niman, "to take" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person nima -a nam -_ nimada -ada nimáu -áu nēmjáu -jáu nimáidáu -áidau
2nd person nimis -is namt -t nimaza -aza nimáis -áis nēmeis -eis nimáizáu -áizáu nim -_
3rd person nimiþ -iþ nam -_ nimada -ada nimái -ái nēmi -i nimáidáu -áidáu nimadáu -adáu
Dual 1st person nimōs -ōs nēmu -u nimáiwa -áiwa nēmeiwa -eiwa
2nd person nimats -ats nēmuts -uts nimáits -áits nēmeits -eits nimats -ats nimats -ats
Plural 1st person nimam -am nēmum -um nimanda -anda nimáima -áima nēmeima -eima nimáindáu -áindáu nimam -am
2nd person nimiþ -iþ nēmuþ -uþ nimáiþ -áiþ nēmeiþ -eiþ nimiþ -iþ
3rd person nimand -and nēmun -un nimáina -áina nēmeina -eina nimandáu -andáu
Infinitive niman (-an)
Present Participle nimands (-ands)
Past Participle numans (-ans)

Weak verbs

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Weak verbs in Germanic languages are defined by the past tense being formed by a suffix, rather than the stem vowel changing. In the case of Gothic, further subclasses are defined by the vowel that comes before the past-tense prefix, as well as other forms of the verb. Generally, the present tense, infinitive, and imperative share the same personal suffixes with strong verbs.

The following table outlines the common past-tense suffix between weak verbs; note that a thematic vowel is always used before this suffix:

Weak past-tense suffix
Subject Indicative Optative
Singular 1st person -da -dēdjáu
2nd person -dēs -dēdeis
3rd person -da -dēdi
Dual 1st person -dēdu -dēdeiwa
2nd person -dēduts -dēdeits
Plural 1st person -dēdum -dēdeima
2nd person -dēduþ -dēdeiþ
3rd person -dēdun -dēdeina

Class 1

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Class 1 verbs are defined by having the thematic vowel -i-; which becomes -j- before vowels and becomes -ei- after long stems before -i-. The following is a sample paradigm of two class 1 weak verbs, nasjan "to save" (short stem-syllable), and sōkjan "to seek" (long stem-syllable; only differing forms shown):

Class 1 weak verb conjugation
Nasjan, "to save";

Sōkjan, "to seek"

Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person nasja -ja nasida -ida nasjada -jada nasjáu -jáu nasidēdjáu -idēdjáu nasjáidáu -jáidáu
2nd person nasjis/ sōkeis -jis/ -eis nasidēs -idēs nasjaza -jaza nasjáis -jáis nasidēdeis -idēdeis nasjáizáu -jáizáu nasei -ei
3rd person nasjiþ/ sōkeiþ -jiþ/ -eiþ nasida -ida nasjada -jada nasjái -jái nasidēdi -idēdi nasjáidáu -jáidáu nasjadáu -jadáu
Dual 1st person nasjōs -jōs nasidēdu -idēdu nasjáiwa -jáiwa nasidēdeiwa -idēdeiwa
2nd person nasjats -jats nasidēduts -idēduts nasjáits -jáits nasidēdeits -idēdeits nasjats -jats nasjats -jats
Plural 1st person nasjam -jam nasidēdum -idēdum nasjanda -janda nasjáima -jáima nasidēdeima -idēdeima nasjáindáu -jáindáu nasjam -jam
2nd person nasjiþ/ sōkeiþ -jiþ/ -eiþ nasidēduþ -idēduþ nasjáiþ -jáiþ nasidēdeiþ -idēdeiþ nasjiþ/ sōkeiþ -jiþ/ -eiþ
3rd person nasjand -jand nasidēdun -idēdun nasjáina -jáina nasidēdeina -idēdeina nasjandáu -jandáu
Infinitive nasjan (-jan)
Present Participle nasjands (-jands)
Past Participle nasiþs (-iþs)

Some class 1 verbs have an irregular past due to the fact that the -i- in the past was lost in Proto-Germanic:

Class 1 stem-changing verbs
General stem Infinitive Past stem Past Participle Meaning
brigg- briggan brāht- *brāhts "to bring"
brūkj- brūkjan brūht- *brūhts "to use"
bugj- bugjan baúht- *baúhts "to buy"
gagg- gaggan iddja, gaggida gaggans "to go"
káupatj- káupatjan káupast- káupatiþs "to buffet"
þagkj- þagkjan þāht- þāhts "to think"
þugkj- þugkjan þūht- þūhts "to seem"
waúrkj- waúrkjan waúrht- waúrhts "to work"
  • gaggan is properly a Class 7 strong verb. iddja is declined like a weak verb. A weak past gaggida also occurs once.
  • briggan is properly a Class 3 strong verb, with other parts taken from a lost verb *braggjan (cf. Old English breng(e)an, Old Saxon brengian).

Class 2

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Class 2 weak verbs are defined by having the thematic vowel -ō-.

The following is a sample paradigm of a class 2 weak verb, salbōn "to anoint":

Class 2 weak verb conjugation
Salbōn, "to anoint" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person salbō salbōda -ōda salbōda -ōda salbō salbōdēdjáu -ōdēdjáu salbōdáu -ōdau
2nd person salbōs -ōs salbōdēs -ōdēs salbōza -ōza salbōs -ōs salbōdēdeis -ōdēdeis salbōzáu -ōzáu salbō
3rd person salbōþ -ōþ salbōda -ōda salbōda -ōda salbō salbōdēdi -ōdēdi salbōdáu -ōdáu salbōdáu -ōdáu
Dual 1st person salbōs -ōs salbōdēdu -ōdēdu salbōwa -ōwa salbōdēdeiwa -ōdēdeiwa
2nd person salbōts -ōts salbōdēduts -ōdēduts salbōts -ōts salbōdēdeits -ōdēdeits salbōts -ōts salbōts -ōts
Plural 1st person salbōm -ōm salbōdēdum -ōdēdum salbōnda -ōnda salbōma -ōma salbōdēdeima -ōdēdeima salbōndáu -ōndáu salbōm -ōm
2nd person salbōþ -ōþ salbōdēduþ -ōdēduþ salbōþ -ōþ salbōdēdeiþ -ōdēdeiþ salbōþ -ōþ
3rd person salbōnd -ōnd salbōdēdun -ōdēdun salbōna -ōna salbōdēdeina -ōdēdeina salbōndáu -ōndáu
Infinitive salbōn (-ōn)
Present Participle salbōnds (-ōnds)
Past Participle salbōþs (-ōþs)

Class 3

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Class 3 weak verbs are marked by having the vowels -a- and -ái- as the thematic vowels. The two thematic vowels are used differently depending on form, with only -ái- being used in the past tense.

The following is a sample paradigm of a class 3 weak verb, haban "to have":

Class 3 weak verb conjugation
Haban, "to have" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person haba -a habáida -áida habada -ada habáu -áu habáidēdjáu -áidēdjáu habáidáu -áidáu
2nd person habáis -áis habáidēs -áidēs habaza -aza habáis -áis habáidēdeis -áidēdeis habáizáu -áizáu habái -ái
3rd person habáiþ -áiþ habáida -áida habada -ada habái -ái habáidēdi -áidēdi habáidáu -áidáu habadáu -adáu
Dual 1st person habōs -ōs habáidēdu -áidēdu habáiwa -áiwa habáidēdeiwa -áidēdeiwa
2nd person habats -ats habáidēduts -áidēduts habáits -áits habáidēdeits -áidēdeits habats -ats habats -ats
Plural 1st person habam -am habáidēdum -áidēdum habanda -anda habáima -áima habáidēdeima -áidēdeima habáindáu -áindáu habam -am
2nd person habáiþ -áiþ habáidēduþ -áidēduþ habáiþ -áiþ habáidēdeiþ -áidēdeiþ habáiþ -áiþ
3rd person haband -and habáidēdun -áidēdun habáina -áina habáidēdeina -áidēdeina habandáu -andáu
Infinitive haban (-an)
Present Participle habands (-ands)
Past Participle habáiþs (-áiþs)

Class 3 is apparently a closed class, containing only the following verbs:

áistan "to reverence", ana-silan "to be silent", andstaúrran "to murmur against", arman "to pity", bauan "to dwell", fastan "to fast, hold firm", fijan "to hate", gageigan "to gain", gakunnan "to recognize", haban "to have", hatan "to hate", jiukan "to contend", leikan "to please", liban "to live", liugan "to marry", maúrnan "to mourn", munan "to consider", reiran "to tremble", saúrgan "to sorrow", sifan "to rejoice", skaman (sik) "to be ashamed", slawan "to be silent", trauan "to trust", swēran "to honour", þahan "to be silent", witan "to watch, observe".

Possibly also *bnauan "to rub" belongs here—only the present participle occurs, which is not enough to tell whether this is a Class 3 weak verb or Class 7 strong verb.

Notes:

  • bauan "to dwell" was originally a Class 7 strong verb (cf. Old Icelandic būa "to dwell", past singular bjō, past participle būenn), and the third singular present indicative is still normally bauiþ, a strong form (vs. *bauáiþ, the expected weak form).
  • hatan also occurs as a Class 1 weak verb hatjan.

Class 4

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Class 4 weak verbs have the suffix -n, in addition to a thematic vowel -ō- in the past tense. In all other tenses, the suffix -n is used before strong verb suffixes.

The following is a sample paradigm of a class 4 weak verb, fullnan "to become full":

Class 4 weak verb conjugation
Fullnan, "to become full" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person fullna -na fullnōda -nōda fullnada -nada fullnáu -náu fullnōdēdjáu -nōdēdjáu fullnáidáu -náidáu
2nd person fullnis -nis fullnōdēs -nōdēs fullnaza -naza fullnáis -náis fullnōdēdeis -nōdēdeis fullnáizáu -náizáu fulln -n
3rd person fullniþ -niþ fullnōda -ōda fullnada -nada fullnái -nái fullnōdēdi -nōdēdi fullnáidáu -náidáu fullnadáu -nadáu
Dual 1st person fullnōs -nōs fullnōdēdu -nōdēdu fullnáiwa -náiwa fullnōdēdeiwa -nōdēdeiwa
2nd person fullnats -nats fullnōdēduts -nōdēduts fullnáits -náits fullnōdēdeits -nōdēdeits fullnats -nats fullnats -nats
Plural 1st person fullnam -nam fullnōdēdum -nōdēdum fullnanda -nanda fullnáima -náima fullnōdēdeima -nōdēdeima fullnáindáu -náindáu fullnam -nam
2nd person fullniþ -niþ fullnōdēduþ -nōdēduþ fullnáiþ -náiþ fullnōdēdeiþ -nōdēdeiþ fullniþ -niþ
3rd person fullnand -nand fullnōdēdun -nōdēdun fullnáina -náina fullnōdēdeina -nōdēdeina fullnandáu -nandáu
Infinitive fullnan (-nan)
Present Participle fullnands (-nands)
Past Participle fullnōþs (-nōþs)

Preterite-present verbs

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So-called "preterite-present verbs" are a feature of Germanic languages that have a present tense formed like the past tense (or "preterite") of strong verbs. The verbs often have the semantics of modal verbs, and in fact the present-day English modal verbs "can, could, may, might, shall, should, must" are descended from Old English preterite-present verbs. The past tense of these verbs is a new formation and has the endings of weak verbs. Arguably, all seven classes of strong verbs are represented in Gothic by at least one preterite-present verb.

The following table presents almost all extant forms of each of the existing preterite-present verbs in Gothic. Many of the missing forms can be derived from existing forms as the number of principal parts is small—in fact, three is usually enough: First/third person singular present indicative, first (or third) person plural present indicative, first/third person singular past indicative. However, occasional small irregularities may occur, and the table below errs on the side of under-generalization. Forms with an *italicized asterisk are reconstructions based on knowledge of other forms or forms from other Germanic languages.

Furthermore, present participles are given a gloss, since the participle often has an unpredictable meaning; especially when the verb in question is inherently intransitive. *ōgan ("to fear") is the only verb in the group known to have an imperative.

Preterite-present verb corpus
Preterite-present corpus Infintive Participle Indicative Optative Imperative
Present Past Present Past Present Past
Class Verb
1 to know Singular 1st person láis
3rd person láis
to know Singular 1st person witands wáit wissa witjáu wissēdjáu
2nd person wáist
3rd person wáit wissa
Plural 1st person witum
2 to be good for Singular 1st person dáug
3rd person dáug
3 to dare Singular 1st person gadaúrsan gadars gadaúrsta gadaúrstjáu
3rd person gadars gadaúrsta
Plural 1st person gadaúrsum
to know Singular 1st person kunnan kunnands kunþs kann kunþa kunþēdjáu
2nd person kant
3rd person kann kunþa
Plural 1st person kunnum
to need Singular 1st person þaúrbands þaúrfts þarf þaúrfta þaúrbjáu
2nd person þarft
3rd person þarf þaúrfta
Plural 1st person þaúrbum
4 to be allowed Singular 1st person binaúhts binah
3rd person binah
to suffice Singular 1st person ganah
3rd person ganah
to think Singular 1st person munan munands munds man munjáu
2nd person mant
3rd person man
Plural 1st person munum
shall; to owe Singular 1st person skulands skulds skal skulda skuljáu skuldēdjáu
2nd person skalt
3rd person skal skulda
Plural 1st person skulum
5 can; may Singular 1st person magands mahts mag mahta magjáu mahtēdjáu
2nd person magt
3rd person mag
Dual 1st person magu
2nd person maguts
Plural 1st person magum
6 to find room Singular 1st person gamōt gamōsta gamōtjáu
3rd person gamōt gamōsta
to fear Singular 1st person (un-agands; "fearless") ōg ōhta ōgjáu
2nd person ōgs
3rd person ōg ōhta
Plural 1st person ōgeiþ
7 to have Singular 1st person áigands áig áihta
2nd person áihtēdeis
3rd person áig áihta áigi
Plural 1st person áigum
2nd person áiguþ
3rd person áigun

Stem-final -g- in magan, ōgan, and áigan is often changed to -h-, especially before voiceless consonants. Áigan has the derivative faír-áigan ("to partake of").

Presumed verbal stems, given the extant forms:

Preterite-present verb stems
Preterite present stems Stem Past Participle Meaning (if differing)
Present 1 Present 2 Past
Class Infinitive Meaning
1 lisan to know láis- *lis- *list-
witan to know wáit- wit- wiss-
2 dugan to be good for dáug- *dug- *dáuht-
3 gadaúrsan to dare gadars- gadaúrs- gadaúrst-
kunnan to know kann- kunn- kunþ- known
þaúrban to need þarb- þaúrb- þaúrft- necessary
4 binaúhan to be allowed binah- *binaúh- binaúht- enough
ganaúhan to be enough ganaúh- *ganaúh- *ganaúht-
munan to think man- mun- mund-
skulan to shall, to owe skal- skul- skuld- owing
5 magan to be able to, can; to may mag- maht-
6 gamōtan to find room gamōt- mōst-
ōgan to fear ōg- ōht- ("fearless", un-agands)
7 áigan to have áig- áiht-

"Present 1" refers to the indicative present singular personal forms, and "Present 2" refers to all other forms in the present; as well as the imperative and infinitive.

Presumed subject suffixes, given the extant forms:

Preterite-present verb suffixes
Preterite-present suffixes Indicative Optative Imperative
Present Past Present Past
Singular 1st person -_ -a -jáu -ēdjáú
2nd person -t *-ēs -eis -ēdeis -s
3rd person -_ -a -i *-ēdi
Dual 1st person -u *-ēdu *-eiwa *-ēdeiwa
2nd person -uts *-ēduts *-eits *-ēdeits
Plural 1st person -um *-ēdum -eima *-ēdeima
2nd person -uþ *-ēduþ -eiþ *-ēdeiþ -eiþ
3rd person -un *-ēdun -eina *-ēdeina
Infinitive -an
Present participle -ands
Past participle -s

Irregular verbs

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Suppletive verbs

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Wisan, "to be"

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This highly irregular verb derives from two different Proto-Indo-European roots by suppletion; see Indo-European copula for more.

Wisan conjugation
Wisan, "to be" Indicative Optative
Present Past Present Past
Singular 1st person im was sijáu wēsjáu
2nd person is wast sijáis wēseis
3rd person ist was sijái wēsi
Dual 1st person siju wēsu *sijáiwa wēseiwa
2nd person *sijuts wēsuts *sijáits wēseits
Plural 1st person sijum wēsum sijáima wēseima
2nd person sijuþ wēsuþ sijáiþ wēseiþ
3rd person sind wēsun sijáina wēseina
Infinitive wisan
Present Participle wisands
Past Participle wisans

Briggan, "to bring"

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Briggan conjugation
Briggan, "to bring" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Past
Singular 1st person brigga brāhta briggada briggáu brāhtēdjáu briggáidáu
2nd person briggis brāhtēs briggaza briggáis brāhtēdeis briggáizáu brigg
3rd person briggiþ brāhta briggada briggáis brāhtēdi briggáidáu briggadáu
Dual 1st person briggōs brāhtēdu briggáiwa brāhtēdeiwa
2nd person briggats brāhtēduts briggáits brāhtēdeits briggats briggats
Plural 1st person briggam brāhtēdum brigganda briggáima brāhtēdeima briggáindáu briggam
2nd person briggiþ brāhtēduþ briggáiþ brāhtēdeiþ briggiþ
3rd person briggand brāhtēdun briggáina brāhtēdeina briggandáu
Infinitive briggan
Present Participle briggands
Past Participle brāhts

Gaggan, "to go"

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Gaggan conjugation
Gaggan, "to go" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Past
Singular 1st person gagga iddja gaggada gaggáu iddjēdjáu gaggáidáu
2nd person gaggis iddjēs gaggaza gaggáis iddjēdeis gaggáizáu gagg
3rd person gaggiþ iddja gaggada gaggái iddjēdi gaggáidáu gaggadáu
Dual 1st person gaggōs iddjēdu gaggáiwa iddjēdeiwa
2nd person gaggats iddjēduts gaggáits iddjēdeits gaggats gaggats
Plural 1st person gaggam iddjēdum gagganda gaggáima iddjēdeima gaggáindáu gaggam
2nd person gaggiþ iddjēduþ gaggáiþ iddjēdeits gaggiþ
3rd person gaggand iddjēdun gaggáina iddjēdeina gaggandáu
Infinitive gaggan
Present Participle gaggands
Past Participle gaggiþs

Wiljan, "to want/will"

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This irregular verb derives from the fossilized optative mood of a Proto-Indo-European verb (not to be confused with the Gothic mood known as optative, which corresponds to the subjunctive mood of PIE and other Germanic languages).

Wiljan conjugation
Wiljan, "to want, to will" Indicative Optative
Active Active
Present Past Past
Singular 1st person wiljáu wilda wildēdjáu
2nd person wiljáis wildēs wildēdeis
3rd person wiljái wilda wildēdi
Dual 1st person wiljáiwa wildēdu wildēdeiwa
2nd person wiljáits wildēduts wildēdeits
Plural 1st person wiljáima wildēdum wildēdeima
2nd person wiljáiþ wildēduþ wildēdeiþ
3rd person wiljáina wildēdun wildēdeina
Infinitive wiljan
Present Participle wiljands

Irregular strong verbs

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Fraíhnan, "to ask"

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Fraíhnan conjugation
Fraíhnan, "to ask" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person fraíhna frah fraíhnada fraíhnáu frēhjáu fraíhnáidáu
2nd person fraíhnis fraht fraíhnaza fraíhnáis frēheis fraíhnáizáu fraíhn
3rd person fraíhniþ frah fraíhnada fraíhnái frēhi fraíhnáidáu fraíhnadáu
Dual 1st person fraíhnōs frēhu fraíhnáiwa frēheiwa
2nd person fraíhnats frēhuts fraíhnáits frēheits fraíhnats fraíhnats
Plural 1st person fraíhnam frēhum fraíhandáu fraíhnáima frēheima fraíhnáindáu fraíhnam
2nd person fraíhniþ frēhuþ fraíhnáiþ frēheiþ fraíhniþ
3rd person fraíhnand frēhun fraíhnáina frēheina fraíhnandáu
Infinitive fraíhnan
Present Participle fraíhnands
Past Participle fraíhans

Itan, "to eat"

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Itan conjugation
Itan, "to eat" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person ita ēt itada itáu ētjáu itáidáu
2nd person itis ētt itaza itáis ēteis itáizáu it
3rd person itiþ ēt itada itái ēti itáidau itadáu
Dual 1st person itōs ētu itáiwa ēteiwa
2nd person itats ētuts itáits ēteits itats itats
Plural 1st person itam ētum itanda itáima ēteima itáindáu itam
2nd person itiþ ētuþ itáiþ ēteiþ itiþ
3rd person itand ētun itáina ēteina itandáu
Infinitive itan
Present Participle itands
Past Participle itans

Standan, "to stand"

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Standan conjugation
Standan, "to stand" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person standa stōþ standada standáu stōdjáu standáidáu
2nd person standis stōst standaza standáis stōdeis standáizáu stand
3rd person standiþ stōþ standada standái stōdi standáidáu standáu
Dual 1st person standōs stōdu standáiwa stōdeiwa
2nd person standats stōduts standáits stōdeits standats standats
Plural 1st person standam stōdum standanda standáima stōdeima standáindáu standam
2nd person standiþ stōduþ standáiþ stōdeiþ standiþ
3rd person standand stōdun standáina stōdeina standandáu
Infinitive standan
Present Participle standands
Past Participle standans

Irregular weak verbs

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Brūkjan, "to use"

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Brūkjan conjugation
Brūkjan, "to use" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person brūkja brūhta brūkjada brūkjáu brūhtēdjáu brūkjáidáu
2nd person brūkeis brūhtēs brūkjaza brūkjáis brūhtēdeis brūkjáizáu brūkei
3rd person brūkeiþ brūhta brūkjada brūkjái brūhtēdi brūkjáidáu brūkjadáu
Dual 1st person brūkjōs brūhtēdu brūkjáiwa brūhtēdeiwa
2nd person brūkjats brūhtēduts brūkjáits brūhtēdeits brūkjats brūkjats
Plural 1st person brūkjam brūhtēdum brūkjanda brūkjáima brūhtēdeima brūkjáindáu brūkjam
2nd person brūkeiþ brūhtēduþ brūkjáiþ brūhtēdeiþ brūkeiþ
3rd person brūkjand brūhtēdun brūkjáina brūhtēdeina brūkjandáu
Infinitive brūkjan
Present Participle brūkjands
Past Participle brūhts

Bugjan, "to buy"

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Bugjan conjugation
Bugjan, "to buy" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person bugja baúhta bugjada bugjáu baúhtēdjáu bugjáizáu
2nd person bugjis baúhtēs bugjaza bugjáis baúhtēdeis bugjáizáu bugei
3rd person bugjiþ baúhta bugjada bugjái baúhtēdi bugjáidáu bugjadáu
Dual 1st person bugjōs baúhtēdu bugjáiwa baúhtēdeiwa
2nd person bugjats baúhtēduts bugjáits baúhtēdeits bugjats bugjats
Plural 1st person bugjam baúhtēdum bugjanda bugjáima baúhtēdeima bugjáindáu bugjam
2nd person bugjiþ baúhtēduþ bugjáiþ baúhtēdeiþ bugjiþ
3rd person bugjand baúhtēdun bugjáina baúhtēdeina bugjandáu
Infinitive bugjan
Present Participle bugjands
Past Participle baúhts

Káupatjan, "to slap"

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Káupatjan conjugation
Káuptjan, "to slap" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person káupatja káupasta káupatjada káupatjáu káupastēdjáu káupatjáidáu
2nd person káupatjis káupastēs káupatjaza káupatjáis káupastēdeis káupatjáizáu káupatei
3rd person káupatjiþ káupasta káupatjada káupatjái káupastēdi káuptjáidáu káupatjadáu
Dual 1st person káupatjōs káupastēdu káupatjáiwa káupastēdeiwa
2nd person káupatjats káupastēduts káupatjáits káupastēdeits káupatjats káupatjats
Plural 1st person káupatjam káupastēdum káupatjanda káupatjáima káupastēdeima káupatjáindáu káupatjam
2nd person káupatjiþ káupastēduþ káupatjáiþ káupastēdeiþ káupatjiþ
3rd person káupatjand káupastēdun káupatjáina káupastēdeina káupatjandáu
Infinitive káupatjan
Present Participle káupatjands
Past Participle káupatiþs

Þagkjan, "to think"

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Þagkjan, "to think"
Þagkjan, "to think" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person þagkja þāhta þagkjada þagkjáu þāhtēdjáu þagkjáidáu
2nd person þagkjis þāhtēs þagkjaza þagkjáis þāhtēdeis þagkjáizáu þagkei
3rd person þagkjiþ þāhta þagkjada þagkjái þāhtēdi þagkjáidáu þagkjadáu
Dual 1st person þagkjōs þāhtēdu þagkjáiwa þāhtēdeiwa
2nd person þagkjats þāhtēduts þagkjáits þāhtēdeits þagkjats þagkjats
Plural 1st person þagkjam þāhtēdum þagkjanda þagkjáima þāhtēdeima þagkjáindáu þagkjam
2nd person þagkjiþ þāhtēduþ þagkjáiþ þāhtēdeiþ þagkjiþ
3rd person þagkjand þāhtēdun þagkjáina þāhtēdeina þagkjandáu
Infinitive þagkjan
Present Participle þagkjands
Past Participle þāhts

Þugkjan, "to seem"

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Þugkjan conjugation
Þugkjan, "to seem" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person þugkja þūhta þugkjada þugkjáu þūhtēdjáu þugkjáidáu
2nd person þugkjis þūhtēs þugkjaza þugkjáis þūhtēdeis þugkjáizáu þugkei
3rd person þugkjiþ þūhta þugkjada þugkjái þūhtēdi þugkjáidáu þugkjadáu
Dual 1st person þugkjōs þūhtēdu þugkjáiwa þūhtēdeiwa
2nd person þugkjats þūhtēduts þugkjáits þūhtēdeits þugkjats þugkjats
Plural 1st person þugkjam þūhtēdum þugkjanda þugkjáima þūhtēdeima þugkjáindáu þugkjam
2nd person þugkjiþ þūhtēduþ þugkjáiþ þūhtēdeiþ þugkjiþ
3rd person þugkjand þūhtēdun þugkjáiwa þūhtēdeina þugkjandáu
Infinitive þugkjan
Present Participle þugkjands
Past Participle þūhts

Waúrkjan, "to work"

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Waúrkjan conjugation
Waúrkjan, "to work" Indicative Optative Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Present Past Present Present Past Present
Singular 1st person waúrkja waúrhta waúrkjada waúrkjáu waúrhtēdjáu waúrkjáidáu
2nd person waúrkjis waúrhtēs waúrkjaza waúrkjáis waúrhtēdeis waúrkjáizáu waúrkei
3rd person waúrkjiþ waúrhta waúrkjada waúrkjái waúrhtēdi waúrkjáidáu waúrkjadáu
Dual 1st person waúrkjōs waúrhtēdu waúrkjáiwa waúrtēdeiwa
2nd person waúrkjats waúrhtēduts waúrkjáits waúrhtēdeits waúrkjats waúrkjats
Plural 1st person waúrkjam waúrhtēdum waúrkjanda waúrkjáima waúrhtēdeima waúkjáindáu waúrkjam
2nd person waúrkjiþ waúrhtēduþ waúrkjáiþ waúrhtēdeiþ waúrkjiþ
3rd person waúrkjand waúrtēdun waúrkjáina waúrhtēdeina waúrkjandáu
Infinitive waúrkjan
Present Participle waúrkands
Past Participle waúrhts

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Miller 2019, p. 177.
  2. ^ a b Miller 2019, p. 216.
  3. ^ Miller 2019, pp. 219–220.
  4. ^ Miller 2019, p. 178.
  5. ^ Braune & Heidermanns 2004, p. 156.
  6. ^ Miller 2019, pp. 216–219.
  7. ^ Miller 2019, p. 191.
  8. ^ Miller 2019, p. 206.

Works cited

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  • Bennett, William Holmes (1980). An Introduction to the Gothic Language. New York: Modern Language Association of America.
  • Braune, Wilhelm; Heidermanns, Frank (2004). Gotische Grammatik (20 ed.). Max Niemeyer. doi:10.1515/9783110945089. ISBN 978-3-484-10850-9.
  • Miller, D. Gary (2019). The Oxford Gothic Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0198813590.
  • Wright, Joseph (1910). Grammar of the Gothic Language. Oxford: Clarendon Press.