beygingarflokks

Beygingarflokkur, in English usually translated as conjugation class, is a term used in Icelandic grammar to describe groups of verbs that share common inflection patterns. The concept helps explain how a verb changes its form across tenses, persons, numbers, moods, and voices. By identifying a verb’s beygingarflokkur, learners can predict its present tense endings, past forms, and participles.

Icelandic verbs are traditionally categorized into strong and weak groups, with several subclasses within the weak group. Strong verbs typically show vowel changes (ablaut) in the past tense and form past participles with endings such as -inn or -inn depending on gender and number. Weak verbs generally add predictable endings in the past and form participles with endings like -að or -aður, again varying by class and gender. There are irregular verbs as well, which may not fit neatly into a single class and can mix patterns from different groups.

The classification is determined mainly by the verb’s infinitive form and by examining its present and past forms. Dictionaries and grammar guides usually indicate a verb’s beygingarflokkur to assist with correct conjugation. While the system provides a helpful framework, real usage can introduce deviations, and some verbs may behave irregularly or shift between classes in historical or dialectal contexts.

Examples

Koma (to come) is a strong verb: present tense kemur, past came etc., with irregular vowel changes and a participle such as kominn. Kalla (to call) is a weak verb: present kallar, past kallaði, participle kallað/kallaður. These examples illustrate how different beygingarflokkar govern inflection patterns.

See also: Icelandic grammar, strong verbs, weak verbs.