This is a good example because it also shows the u-umlaut which would have taken place even without the past tense ending. It should be mentioned however, that some weak verbs will undergo another umlaut known as the i-umlaut. This will cause the vowel in the stem to change like the u-umlaut but this vowel change does not make it a strong verb. To recognize weak verbs, it is crucial that you recognize their weak endings.
The u-umlaut changes any a to ö when followed by a u. The i-umlaut affects several vowels in several ways. If an e is followed by an i then the resulting vowel is a. Example: segja in the past becomes sagði.
If the letter yi, the resulting vowel change is u. Example: spyrja in the past tense becomes spurði. If the diphthong au is followed by an i then the resulting diphthong is ey. Example: kaupa in the past becomes keypti.
Infinitive | Past 1st Person Singular | Past 1st Person Plural | Past Participle | class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
bíta | beit | bitum | bitinn | 1 | |
bjóða | bauð | buðum | boðinn | 2 | |
bresta | brast | brustum | brostinn | 3 | |
binda | batt | bundum | bundinn | 3 | |
bera | bar | bárum | borinn | 4 | |
biðja | bað | báðum | beðinn | 5 | |
fara * | fór | fórum | farinn | 6 | |
blása | blés | blésum | blásinn | 7 | |
búa | bjó | bjuggum | búinn | 7 |