Preterite-present verbs get their name from their origin in preterites (past tense) of strong verbs, whose present forms fell out of that paradigm, and whose forms were anatomized with present sense. The present tense forms are built on what was the second principal part of the singular, and the third principal part of the plural. Infinitive forms and past participles are often lacking. These verbs commonly acquired new finite past tense forms through the mechanism of the dental suffix found in the weak verbs.

Because of their origin in the strong verbs there are six original classes/ gradations of preterite-present verbs.