4
Verb forms
4.1 Verb types
In Old English, not wholly unlike present-day English, we can divide
verbs up into three main groups, together with a handful of irregular
verbs. The main groups are: (1)
weak verbs; (2)
strong verbs;
(3)
modals. But there are significant general differences which should
be pointed out at once.
Firstly, you may have noticed that I have not suggested a group of
auxiliary verbs parallel
to be,
have and
do. For the last of these there is
no problem, since
do could only function as a full verb in Old English.
It is arguable, however, that the first two could function rather like an
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