4.3 Verb tenses, moods, and aspects

Old English verb tenses are simpler than modern English, with just present and past. The present tense covers current and future actions, while the past tense deals with completed events. No specific future tense exists.

Verbs in Old English also have moods and aspects. The subjunctive expresses hypotheticals, while the imperative gives commands. Perfective aspect shows completed actions, and imperfective aspect indicates ongoing ones.

Verb Tenses in Old English

Tenses in Old English

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• Present tense formed by adding personal endings to the verb stem expresses actions happening now or general truths (ic singe)
• Past tense formed by adding personal endings to the past stem with regular verbs adding -d- or -t- to the verb stem and irregular verbs having unique past stems that must be memorized (ic sang)
• Old English lacks a specific future tense form instead expressing future actions using the present tense often with adverbs or phrases indicating future time (ic singe tōmorgen)

Subjunctive and imperative moods

• Subjunctive mood expresses hypothetical, desired, or uncertain actions formed by adding subjunctive endings to the verb stem with present subjunctive endings similar to present indicative endings but some differences in the singular and past subjunctive formed using the past stem and subjunctive endings (ic singe)
• Imperative mood expresses commands, requests, or advice formed using the bare verb stem for singular and -aþ ending for plural (sing!, singaþ!)

Perfective vs imperfective aspects

• Perfective aspect expresses completed actions or events formed using the verb "habban" (to have) or "bēon" (to be) as an auxiliary verb followed by the past participle which is formed by adding -en, -ed, or -od to the verb stem (ic hæbbe gesungen)
• Imperfective aspect expresses ongoing, repeated, or habitual actions with no specific grammatical form in Old English often conveyed through context or adverbs (ic singe ælce dæg)

Functions of verb forms

• Present tense used for current actions, general truths, or future events
• Past tense used for completed actions or events in the past
• Indicative mood states facts or asks questions
• Subjunctive mood expresses hypothetical, desired, or uncertain actions
• Imperative mood expresses commands, requests, or advice
• Perfective aspect emphasizes the completion of an action
• Imperfective aspect emphasizes the ongoing or habitual nature of an action
• Verbs agree with their subjects in person and number
• Tense, mood, and aspect contribute to the meaning and structure of a sentence