The change from a long vowel to a short one, as in feed, fed, &c., can only take place where there is a long vowel to be changed.
Where the vowels are short, and, at the same time, the word ends in -d, the -d of the present may become -t in the præterite. Such is the case with bend, bent.
When there is no long vowel to shorten, and no -d
to change into -t, the two tenses, of necessity, remain alike; such is the case with cut, cost, &c.
[§ 313]. The following verbs form their præterite in -t:—
| Present. | Præterite. | ||
| Leave | Left[[60]] | not | Leaved.[[61]] |
| Cleave | Cleft | — | Cleaved. |
| Bereave | Bereft | — | Bereaved. |
| Deal | Dealt[[62]] | — | Dealed. |
| Feel | Felt | — | Feeled. |
| Dream | Dremt[[60]] | — | Dreamed. |
| Learn | Lernt[[60]] | — | Learned. |
[§ 314]. Certain so-called irregularities may now be noticed.—Made, had.—In these words there is nothing remarkable but the ejection of a consonant. The Anglo-Saxon forms are macode and hæfde, respectively. The words, however, in regard to the amount of change, are not upon a par. The f in hæfde was probably sounded as v. Now v is a letter excessively liable to be ejected, which k is not. K, before it is ejected, is generally changed into either g or y.
Would, should, could.—It must not be imagined that could is in the same predicament with these words. In will and shall the -l is part of the original word. This is not the case with can. For the form could, see § [331].
[§ 315]. Aught.—In Anglo-Saxon áhte, the præterite of the present form áh, plural ágon.—As late as the time of Elizabeth we find owe used for own. The present form own seems to have arisen from the plural ágon. Aught is the præterite of the Anglo-Saxon áh; owed of the English owe = debeo; owned of the English own =
possideo. The word own, in the expression to own to a thing, has a totally different origin. It comes from the Anglo-Saxon an (plural, unnon) = I give, or grant = concedo.