Singular.
(I) am. (I) was, watȝ.
(Thou) art. (Thou) was, watȝ.
(He) is, bes, betȝ. (He) was, watȝ.
Plural.
(We) arn, are, ar. (We) wern, were.
(Ȝe) arn, are, ar. (Ȝe) wern, were.
(Thay) arn, are, ar. (Thay) wern, were.
The verbs _be_, _have_, _wille_, have negative forms; as, _nam_ = am
not; _nar_ = are not; _nas_ = was not; _naf_ = have not; _nade_ = had
not; _nyl_ = will not.
The following contractions are occasionally met with: _bos_ = behoves;
_byhod_ = behoved; _ha_ = have; _ma_ = make; _man_ = make (pl.) _matȝ_
(_mas_) = makes; _ta_ = take; _tatȝ_ (= _tas_) = takes; _tane_, _tone_ =
taken.
[Footnote 62: _Schonied_ occurs for _schoned_. No Southern writer
would retain, I think, the _i_ in the preterite.]
[Footnote 63: Garnett asserts that the present participle in
_-ande_ is “a _certain criterion_ of a Northern dialect subsequent
to the thirteenth century.” It is never found in any Southern
writer, but is common to many Midland dialects. Capgrave employs
it frequently in his Chronicles. It is, however, no safe criterion
by itself.]
[Footnote 64: The final _e_ is often dropped.]
[Footnote 65: In _The Wohunge of Ure Lauerd_ the _e_ is constantly
omitted.]