Strong Verb Patterns

Level 4

bíta, beit, bitum, bitið (bite). Learn the four vowels of one verb, and you can often predict others, like líta, leit, litum, litið (look).

How It Works

The patterns. Each line shows the infinitive, the past singular (ég, hún), the past plural (við) and the supine:

  • 1. í – ei – i – i: bíta, beit, bitum, bitið (bite); also líta (look), grípa (grab)
  • 2. jó or jú – au – u – o: bjóða, bauð, buðum, boðið (offer, invite); fljúga, flaug, flugum, flogið (fly)
  • 3. e or i – a – u – u or o: drekka, drakk, drukkum, drukkið (drink); finna, fann, fundum, fundið (find); verða, varð, urðum, orðið (become)
  • 4. e – a – á – o: bera, bar, bárum, borið (carry); stela, stal, stálum, stolið (steal)
  • 5. e or i – a – á – e: gefa, gaf, gáfum, gefið (give); lesa, las, lásum, lesið (read); sitja, sat, sátum, setið (sit)
  • 6. a – ó – ó – a or e: fara, fór, fórum, farið (go); taka, tók, tókum, tekið (take); standa, stóð, stóðum, staðið (stand)
  • 7. mixed: the past has its own vowel, often é, and the supine returns to the infinitive vowel: heita, hét, hétum, heitið; gráta, grét, grétum, grátið (cry); falla, féll, féllum, fallið (fall); hlaupa, hljóp, hlupum, hlaupið (run)

Using the parts. The past singular has no ending for ég and hún (see strong verbs past). All the plural past forms share the third vowel: við bitum, þið bituð, þau bitu. The supine goes after hafa: Ég hef bitið.

Why the past plural matters. The past subjunctive is built from it: bitum → biti, drukkum → drykki, gáfum → gæfi, fórum → færi.

The present. Many strong verbs also change the vowel in the present singular: ég býð (bjóða), ég flýg (fljúga), ég fer (fara), ég hleyp (hlaupa). See present tense of strong verbs.

A tip. Patterns help, but some common verbs have their own twist: koma, kom, komum, komið; sjá, sá, sáum, séð. Learn every new strong verb with its four parts.

Examples (6)

  1. Hundurinn beit mig í fótinn.

    The dog bit me on the leg.

    Word by Word: The-dog bit me in the-leg.

    bíta, beit: the first pattern.

  2. Þau buðu okkur í mat á laugardaginn.

    They invited us to dinner on Saturday.

    Word by Word: They offered us in food on the-Saturday.

    bjóða, bauð, buðum: the plural has u.

  3. Við drukkum kaffi og spjölluðum saman.

    We drank coffee and chatted.

    Word by Word: We drank coffee and chatted together.

    drekka, drakk, drukkum: the singular has a, the plural u.

  4. Við bárum kassana inn í húsið.

    We carried the boxes into the house.

    Word by Word: We carried the-boxes in into the-house.

    bera, bar, bárum: the plural has á.

  5. Hefurðu gefið honum gjöfina?

    Have you given him the present?

    Word by Word: Have-you given him the-gift?

    The supine of gefa goes back to e: gefið.

  6. Ég hef aldrei flogið til Grænlands.

    I have never flown to Greenland.

    Word by Word: I have never flown to Greenland.

    fljúga, flaug, flugum, flogið: the supine has o.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding a weak past ending to a strong verb.

    Ég drekkaði kaffi í morgun.
    Ég drakk kaffi í morgun.

    drekka is a strong verb. It changes its vowel and adds no -aði: the past singular is drakk.

  • Keeping the singular vowel in the plural.

    Við drakkum kaffi saman.
    Við drukkum kaffi saman.

    In this pattern the plural has u: drakk, but drukkum.

  • Using the past vowel in the supine.

    Hún hefur gafið mér margt.
    Hún hefur gefið mér margt.

    The supine of gefa goes back to the infinitive vowel e: gefið.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Strong Verb PatternsLevel 4

Learn This First

Strong verb patterns build on principal parts.