4.2.1. (b) - 1st class weak irregular verbs
Some verbs of this type showed the assimilation of the consonant of the verbal stem and the suffix forming the past tense. This assimilation must have taken place already in the Proto-Germanic language. At least, it is attested in Gothic (cf Goth þagkjan (to think) – p tense sing þahta; waúrkjan (to make, do, work)– p tense sing waúrhta, etc).
| I class irregular |
infinitive | past tense singular |
| to seek, to look for | sécan | sóhte |
| to buy | bусȝаn, bусȝеаn | bohte |
| to think, meditate | þencan | þóhte |
| to think; to seem, appear | þyncan | þúhte |
The anomalous form-building in other OE weak verbs of the first class (e.g. tellan ← *taljan) is attributable to the assimilative phonetic influence of the suffix -jan of the Prot-Germ weak verbs, causing the umlaut (a > æ > e) of the verbal stem vowel, resulting in tellan in pres tense stem. In the p tense forms of the same verb, due to the absence of the said suffix, there is preserved the original Anglo-Saxon vocalization (-ea-, -a-) of the verbal stem (vid below).
| I class irregular |
infinitive | past tense singular |
| to tell, narrate | tellan | tealde, talde |
