original_query: What is the reason for the leveling of vowel length in favor of the plural in the present tense?
query: What is the reason for the leveling of vowel length in favor of the plural in the present tense of Middle Dutch strong verbs?
answer: The leveling of vowel length in favor of the plural in the present tense of Middle Dutch strong verbs is a consequence of the weakening of unstressed vowels and the resulting loss of distinctions between indicative and subjunctive moods and between different vowel qualities.