STRONG VERB Meaning and
Definition
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A strong verb is a linguistic term that refers to a verb that undergoes a change in its stem vowel or uses a different stem in its past tense, past participle, or both. Strong verbs are unique as they do not form their past tense or past participle through the addition of the usual "-ed" ending, as in regular or weak verbs. Instead, strong verbs have their own distinct patterns of forming these tenses.
One characteristic feature of strong verbs is the modification of their stem vowel in the past tense or past participle. This alteration can be seen in various ways, such as a change in vowel quality, vowel lengthening, or the addition of a diphthong. For example, in the verb "sing," the stem vowel changes from "i" to "a" in the past tense ("sang") and past participle ("sung"). Similarly, in the verb "swim," the stem vowel changes from "i" to "a" in the past tense ("swam") and past participle ("swum").
Additionally, some strong verbs also have a different stem altogether in the past tense or past participle. For instance, the verb "go" has the past tense form "went" and the past participle "gone."
The strength of strong verbs lies in their ability to convey precise meanings and nuances through the distinct changes in their stem vowels or stems. While strong verbs are less common than weak verbs in the English language, they add diversity and richness to language by providing unique ways to express actions and states.
Common Misspellings for STRONG VERB
- atrong verb
- ztrong verb
- xtrong verb
- dtrong verb
- etrong verb
- wtrong verb
- srrong verb
- sfrong verb
- sgrong verb
- syrong verb
- s6rong verb
- s5rong verb
- steong verb
- stdong verb
- stfong verb
- sttong verb
- st5ong verb
- st4ong verb
- string verb
- strkng verb
Etymology of STRONG VERB
The term "strong verb" originates from Old English, where it was known as "strang" (pronounced "strong"). "Strang" referred to a verb that demonstrated a change in its stem vowel to indicate tense or mood, as opposed to using an affix or suffix. The Old English root word "strang" has Germanic origins and is related to the Old Norse word "sterkra" and the Gothic word "strauhs", both meaning "strong". Over time, the term "strong verb" came into use in modern linguistics to categorize verbs that undergo vowel changes for tense or mood distinctions.
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