Englisc/Præterit-Præsens Verbe

Preterite-Present Verbs

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Modal Verbs
These are a sub-set of the preterite-present verbs, which can be used to tell a speaker's attitude towards what he's saying. They are used with the bare infinitive of the verb, as in English, German, Dutch, and other Germanic languages.
 * Modals:
 * durren - to dare to
 * kunnen - to know how to, be able to, can
 * magen - to be able to, can
 * moten - to have permission to, may, can
 * scullen - to be obligated to, ought, shall
 * þurfen - to need to
 * willen - to want to

You can see these verbs have a slightly different meaning from other Germanic languages, retaining their original meanings more clearly. This can be shown using an example:
 * Þu most Kwidden wreiten - you can write sentences (you have permission to write sentences)
 * Þu magst Kwidden wreiten - you can write sentences (you have the ability to write sentences)
 * Þu kannst Kwidden wreiten - you can write sentences (you know how to write sentences)

In Englisc, magen is the closest to the modern English "can, be able to" for translations.

Agen

 * agen - to own, possess, have, obtain; to give, deliver, restore (w.d. recipient); on Hand ~ to deliver in hand; ~ ut to find out
 * agen, ag, ahte, geagen

Benugen

 * benugen - to need, want, require, enjoy; w.g.
 * benugen, benag, benohte, benogen

Dugen

 * dugen - to avail, to be of use, able, fit, strong, vigorous, good, virtuous, honest, bountiful, kind, liberal
 * dugen, deag, dohte, gedogen

Durren

 * to dare to, presume to
 * durren, dorste, gedorren

Subjunctive II

Gemunen

 * gemunen - to remember, bear in mind, consider; w.g. and w.a.
 * gemunen, gemaan, gemunde, gemunen

Genugen

 * genugen - to suffice, to be sufficient, not to be wanting
 * genugen, genag, genohte, genogen
 * Ex: þat genag, us to helpen.

Subjunctive II

Kunnen

 * to be acquainted with, know (alone); ic ne kann þie Frowe I don't know that lady
 * to know how to, can, have power, be able (w.infin); ic kann þie twa Boek finden I can find the two books
 * Participles: kunnend, gekunnen/gekuþ

Subjunctive II

Magen

 * to be strong, efficacious, to avail, prevail, be sufficient (alone); usre Friend mageþ us lytel our friends avail us little
 * magan to - to be good for, be the cause of, serve a purpose, have an effect; þat mæȝ to Naht that's good for nothing and 'him mæȝ to Sorge, þat to hieren' it causes him anxiety to hear that
 * magan wiþ - to prevail against (a disease), to be good for (some disease); Tylenol mæȝ wiþ Hefdecce Tylenol is good for headache.
 * magan wiþ - to have influence with (accusative); if ic mæȝ so well wiþ þic, þonn hu kannst þu mid her utgan? if I'm so influential with you, then how can you go out with her?
 * to be able to, can (because something is possible, or you have permission or power to)


 * Note: in certain dialects, this verb's infinitive is mugen, not magen. Their present plural is then mugeþ.  A different dialect holds magen/mahte/gemaht as the verb, and the present as maag, maagst, mageþ

Subjunctive II

Moten

 * to be allowed to, have permission to, may

Subjunctive II

Scullen

 * to be obliged to, shall

Subjunctive II

Þurfen

 * to need to, must

Subjunctive II

Willen
Present
 * To want to, will

Subjunctive II

Witten
Present
 * witten - to know
 * witten, waat, wiste, gewitten

Subjunctive II


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