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If you have not read our blog post on weak verbs, you might want to do that here. Now you are aware that not every verb will form past participles in the same manner .  You have now absorbed the essence of what a weak verb is and how the regular patterns of these verbs might help you in your quest to master a Germanic language. But you must also be aware of the existence of strong verbs. (Not to be confused with active verbs vs. weak verbs in creative writing…more on this here)

Strong verbs (irregular verbs) are those that form a catchy pattern when they are transformed into past tense…think sing, sang, sung or ring, rang, rung, or ride, rode, ridden or drive, drove, driven. So for now,  you will be a better human being if you are simply aware of the existence of weak verbs (those who form a past tense with very little changing) and strong verbs (those who form a past tense through a slightly more unpredictable pattern that nevertheless forms a catchy series of vowel sounds). Just so you believe me that this occurs in other Germanic languages:

German

reiten, ritt, geritten

Dutch

bedriegen, bedroog, bedrogen

Now that you are aware of the existence of strong and weak verbs, how does one remember that strong verbs are also known as irregular while weak verbs are known as regular?  If you need to associates the words “strong” and “irregular” just give this a click….

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