Root verb
The root verb has its inflection ending without a subject vowel right next to the root. Other terms for root verbs are also athematic verb or mi-verb .
The designation as athematic verbs emphasizes the way in which the present tense forms of these verbs are formed in relation to others. Originally the 1st person , singular , present tense , indicative with the suffix , i.e. H. the ending -mi formed. This is where the term mi-verbs goes .
Four verbs are affected up to the early New High German literature (approx. 1350 – approx. 1650):
- sîn = to be
- gân / gên = to go
- stân / stên = to stand
- tuon = to do
In the middle of the 17th century only 'bin', i.e. the 1st person, singular, present tense, indicative of 'sein', was formed with the old ending -n (from -mi ). With all other root verbs, this ending no longer appears in New High German , i.e. from around 1650, and they give up their monosyllabic partially or completely in favor of two-syllable. ( Compare Middle High German tuon with New High German tue , mhd. Stân and nhd. Stand , mhd. Gân and nhd. Go ).
The verb sîn = to be
The inflection system of this verb is formed from three roots in the Germanic languages and dialects:
- Indo-European: * es (New High German: is)
- Indo-European: * bheu (New High German: am)
- Indo-European: * u̯es (New High German: had, been)
The root forms are: sin / wёsan - bim - was - warun (participle is not used)
| sîn | Old High German |
|---|---|
| Indicative singular present tense | 1.bim / -n |
| 2.bist | |
| 3. is | |
| Indicative plural present tense | 1. birum |
| 2.birut | |
| 3. birum |
| s în | Old High German |
|---|---|
| Present subjunctive | 1.si |
| 2.sis | |
| 3.si | |
| Present subjunctive plural | 1.sim / -n |
| 2. sit, sint | |
| 3.sin |
literature
- W. Braune: Old High German Grammar . 14th edition, H. Eggers. Tübingen 1987.
- G. Schweikle: Germanic-German language history at a glance . 3rd edition, Stuttgart 1990
- W. Schmidt: History of the German language . 7th edition, Stuttgart and Leipzig 1996
