Weak and Strong
Weak verbs should be contrasted with strong verbs, which form their past tenses by means of ablaut (vowel gradation: sing - sang - sung). Most verbs in the early stages of the Germanic languages were strong. However, as the ablaut system is no longer productive except in rare cases of analogy, almost all new verbs in Germanic languages are weak, and the majority of the original strong verbs have become weak by analogy.
Read more about this topic: Germanic Weak Verb
Famous quotes containing the words weak and, weak and/or strong:
“A proper secrecy is the only mystery of able men; mystery is the only secrecy of weak and cunning ones.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)
“If with light head erect I sing,
Though all the muses lend their force,
From my poor love of anything,
The verse is weak and shallow as its source.
But if with bended neck I grope,
Listening behind me for my wit,
With faith superior to hope,
More anxious to keep back than forward it,”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.”
—Bible: New Testament, Luke 1:80.