In all the Anglo-Saxon words, it may be remarked that the change is from a to u, and that both the vowels are short, or dependent. Also, that the vowel of the present tense is i short; as swim, sing, &c. The Anglo-Saxon form of run is yrnan.

In the following words the change is from the Anglo-Saxon á to the Anglo-Saxon ī. In English, the regularity of the change is obscured by a change of pronunciation.

Bát, I bit; biton, we bit. Smát, I smote; smiton, we smit.

From these examples the reader has himself drawn his inference; viz. that words like

Began, begun.
Ran, run.
Span, spun.
Sang, sung.
[[46]]Swang, swung.
Sprang, sprung.
Sank, sunk.
Swam, swum.
Rang, rung.
[[46]]Bat, bit.
Smote, smit.
Drank, drunk, &c.,

generally called double forms of the past tense, were originally different numbers of the same tense, the forms in u, as swum, and the forms in i, bit, being plural.

CHAPTER XXI.

ON MOODS.