| Minor Groups of verbs
The verbs included in the minor groups underwent analogical and phonetic changes in ME which affected their forms and semantic changes which affected their functions.
ME can from OE cann was used not only in sg. but also in the plural form cunnen, but by the end of the ME period it died out. The Past tense Indicative and Subjunctive appeared in ME in two variants couth(e) and coud(e). Coud was preserved when couth(e) died out. Can, couth/coude were used as modal verbs indicating physical or mental ability.
ME may (from OE mæʒ) was used as the main form of the Present tense as its Infinitive and Participle 1 (mowen/ mowe) went out of use. Its Pats tense form might (from OE meahte, mihte) was retained as Past Indicative and Subjunctive. It narrowed the meaning of physical and mental ability.
ME shall (OE sceal) lost many of its old forms and retained only 2 forms shall, should Past Indefinite and Subjunctive. It was used as a modal verb of necessity , obligation and order.
The OE verb mōt appeared in ME as must which lost its forms mōste, mōstest, mōsten in Past tense. It expressed the meaning of obligation. OE āʒte,āʒton, āʒten were Past tense forms of OE āʒan which acquired the meaning of the present and developed into a new modal verb in ME ought(e).
The OE verb willan in ME was commonly used as a modal verb expressing volition. In the course of time it formed a system with shall and will (also should, would) began to weaken their lexical meanings and changes into auxiliaries.
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