INDICATIVE VERBS

Before learning any verb forms in the Greek language, it is important to understand a few terms:

- Tense – This expresses the time of an event (e.g. Present, Future, Imperfect, Aorist)

- Voice – Whether the subject of the verb is doing the action or having the action done to themselves (e.g. Active, Middle, or Passive)

- Mood – This refers to the attitude of the verb and thus how it is used. There are 4:

o Indicative – this is the most common mood of verbs and expresses facts – ‘I shout.’

o Subjunctive – This expresses uncertainty or something with potential - ‘I may shout.’

o Imperative – This mood expresses commands – ‘Don’t shout!’

o Optative – This mood is more remote than the subjunctive, a more remote possibility - ‘I might shout.’

- Person – the person doing the verb (e.g. I, you (sg), he/she/it, we, you (pl), they)

o 1st person singular = I

o 2nd person singular = You (sg)

o 3rd person singular = He/she/it

o 1st person plural = We

o 2nd person plural = You (pl)

o 3rd person plural = They

Whilst there are many combinations of tenses, moods and voices in the Greek language, GCSE level only requires you to learn a handful of them.

This section of grammar focuses on INDICATIVE VERBS!

Indicative verbs are the most common type of verbs and state facts.

E.g. ‘He is fighting’ or ‘We are sleeping.’

For GCSE, you need to know 4 tenses in the indicative mood: Present, imperfect, future, and aorist!

ACTIVE VERBS:

PRESENT TENSE:

The present tense, in Greek, is formed by taking the present stem of a verb (1st principal part without -ω or -ομαι and adding the present endings.

E.g. παυω (Present stem = παυ; present ending = ω)

Here are the endings:

*Notice, the 3rd person plural has a nu in brackets - this is added to the end of the verb if the next word starts will a vowel OR it is the final word in the sentence.

FUTURE TENSE:

The future tense is translated just like the English - ‘X shall/will ——’

In Greek, this is formed with the present stem and present endings BUT a sigma is added between the stem and the endings!

Here is how it looks:

IMPORTANT:

Some verb stems which end in a consonant need adjustments with the added sigma:

π + σ = ψ (E.g. πεμπω —> πεμψω)
φ + σ = ψ (E.g. γραφω —> γραψω)
κ + σ = ξ (E.g. διωκω —> διωξω)
γ + σ = ξ (E.g. ἀγω —> ἀξω)
σκ + σ = ξ (E.g. διδασκω —> διδαξω)
θ + σ = σ (E.g. πειθω —> πεισω)

IMPERFECT TENSE:

The imperfect tense is a past tense, often translated as ‘X was —-ing’ or ‘X used to —-’ - there is a sense of an action not completed!

To form the imperfect active tense in Greek, it uses the present stem with different endings to the present - it also has an epsilon with a smooth breathing at the beginning (this is called an augment and looks like: ἐ-)

E.g. ἐ-παυ-ον (Augment + present stem + imperfect endings)

Here are the endings:

*The 1st person singular and 3rd person plural are identical - context will tell you which one it should be translated as.

**Remember, to look up the meaning of the word in a dictionary, remove the augment (ἐ) at the beginning.

AORIST TENSE:

The Aorist tense is the simple past tense, denoting a single action that happened - It is often translated as ‘X —ed’ (Similar to the Perfect tense in Latin)

There are TWO different ways of forming the aorist tense - every verb falls into one of the two forms! These are known as the First and the Second Aorist.

They mean the same thing, just formed differently
The First Aorist is more common!
Just like the imperfect tense, both forms of the Aorist have an augment (ἐ)

FIRST AORIST (WEAK):

This is formed by:

Augment + Present Stem + Sigma + First Aorist Endings

*Look out for the augment and sigma combination - and also the characteristic alpha vowel in the endings!

REMEMBER: The rules for certain consonants with a sigma applies here, just like the future (E.g. διωκω —> ἐδιωξα)

SECOND AORIST (STRONG)

This is used for a certain group of verbs (you need to learn which!)

It is formed by:

Augment + Aorist stem + Imperfect Endings

You must learn how the verbs stem changes in the Second Aorist - this is often a shortened version of the present stem (E.g. λαμβανω —> λαβ-)

Because the form is so similar to the imperfect tense, it is important that you learn the change in stem so that you recognise that it is Aorist!

Here are some to learn:

λαμβανω —> ἐλαβον
μανθανω —> ἐμαθον
φευγω —> ἐφυγον
ἀγω —> ἠγαγον (Notice that the augment (ἐ) + the alpha (α) create an eta (ἠ) augment)
πιπτω —> ἐπεσον
εὐρισκω —> ηὑρον (Notice that the augment (ἐ) + the epsilon (ε) in a dipthong creates an eta (ἠ) augment)
ἐχω —> ἐσχον
λειπω —> ἐλιπον
τρεχω —> ἐδραμον
Note that λεγω can be both 1st Aorist (ἐλεξα) and 2nd Aorist (εἰπον)
βαλλω —> ἐβαλον
πασχω —> ἐπαθον
ἐσθιω —> ἐφαγον

Notice, some aorist stems are shortened, some are changed a bit, and some are completely different!

ROOT AORISTS:

In addition to the First and Second Aorist forms, there are some verbs that use the root aorist. The most important ones to know are βαίνω (I go) and γιγνώσκω (I get to know)

It is formed with: Augment + Root stem + almost Present endings

E.g. βαίνω root = -βη-

E.g. γιγνώσκω root = -γνω-

If you look at the endings, most of them are just shortened present tense endings.

Negative:

To make a verb negative, the word used is οὐ - this is usually placed just before the verb

If the next word starts with a vowel with a smooth breathing, it becomes οὐκ
If the next word starts with a vowel with a rough breathing, it becomes οὐχ

PASSIVE VERBS:

The passive voice is when the subject of the verb is having the action done to them, rather than doing the action.

E.g. The soldier rides the horse (ACTIVE) vs. The horse is being ridden by the soldier (PASSIVE)

PRESENT PASSIVE TENSE:

The Present Passive tense is translated as ‘X is/are being —ed’ or just ‘X is/are —ed’.

It is formed with the present stem (just like the active) but with present passive endings!

Here are the endings to learn:

* For the 2nd person singular form παύει is also possible - this is the same as the 3rd person singular active form so context will tell you which one it should be translated as.

FUTURE PASSIVE TENSE:

The Future Passive Tense is formed with the Aorist Passive Stem (as seen below).

Aorist Passive Stem + ησ + Present Passive Endings

IMPERFECT PASSIVE TENSE:

The Imperfect Passive tense is translated as ‘X was/were being —ed’ or ‘X was/were —ed’.

It is formed with: Augment + Present Stem + Imperfect Passive Endings.

Here are the endings to learn:

*Some of the endings here are identical to the present passive, so look out for the augment at the start which distinguishes the tenses.

AORIST PASSIVE TENSE:

Unlike the Aorist Active, there is no distinction between First and Second Aorist in the Passive. They all have the same endings!

It is formed by:

Augment + Present stem + (Sigma) + Theta + Endings

Whilst some First Aorist verbs insert a sigma before the theta, like above, many do not! It is therefore important to look out for the signature theta instead for the Aorist Passive.

E.g. λύω —> ἐλύθην

Here are some irregular Aorist Passive stems to learn:

ἂγω —> ἢγαγον (Aorist Active) —> ἢχθην (Aorist Passive)
λαμβάνω —> ἒλαβον (Aorist Active) —> ἐλήφθην (Aorist Passive)
λέγω —> εἶπον (Aorist Active) —> ἐρρήθην (Aorist Passive)
φέρω —> ἢνεγκα (Aorist Active) —> ἠνέχθην (Aorist Passive)

Some deponent verbs have Passive Aorists for their Active form. Here are the ones to remember:

βούλομαι —> ἐβουλήθην (I wished)
ὀργίζομαι —> ὠργίσθην (I got angry)
πορεύομαι —> ἐπορεύθην (I marched)
φαίνομαι —> ἐφάνην (I appeared)

MIDDLE VERBS:

Unlike Latin, Greek has a 3rd voice - the middle voice.

The middle voice is between the active and passive voice - in a way a combination of both!

It is often used when an active and transitive verb is used intransitively (no object) or reflexively (object is the subject).

E.g. The men stop the battle = ACTIVE vs. The battle stops/ceases = MIDDLE (intransitive)

E.g. The woman washes her son = ACTIVE vs. The woman washes (herself) = MIDDLE (reflexive)

The middle is most often translated in the same way as the active mood BUT occasionally a different word is more appropriate (E.g. stops —-> ceases)

Some verbs have a completely different meaning in the middle voice:

ἂρχω = I rule —> ἂρχομαι (middle) = I begin
πείθω = I persuade —> πείθομαι (middle) = I obey

Some verbs are only ever found in the middle form and are translated as active:

αἰσθάνομαι = I perceive, notice
ἀποκρίνομαι = I answer, reply
βούλομαι = I want, wish
γίγνομαι = I become, happen
δέχομαι = I receive
ἓπομαι = I follow (+dat)
ἒρχομαι = I come, go
μάχομαι = I fight
ὀργίζομαι = I get angry with (+dat)
πορεύομαι = I march, travel
πυνθάνομαι = I enquire, ascertain, find out
φαίνομαι = I appear, seem

Some of these verbs do have an active form, however, it is less common (E.g. ὀργίζω = I anger (someone); φαίνω = I show)

PRESENT AND IMPERFECT MIDDLE TENSES:

The Present and Imperfect Middle tenses are IDENTICAL to the Present and Imperfect Passive tenses!

This makes them easy to learn - context will tell you how to translate it.

E.g. ὁ ἀνήρ τὸν παῖδα διδάσκεται - the presence of the object shows that this is middle rather than passive. It would be translated as ‘The man gets the child taught’

FUTURE MIDDLE TENSE:

This is formed by:

Present Stem + Sigma + Present Middle/Passive Endings

Deponent Verbs/ Verbs with different middle meanings usually have the Future Middle form as their Future Active:

ἂρχομαι (I begin) —> ἂρξομαι (I shall begin)
δέχομαι (I receive) —> δέξομαι (I shall receive)
ἓπομαι (I follow) —> ἓψομαι (I shall follow)
πορεύομαι (I march) —> πορεύσομαι (I shall march)

Some verbs change their stem in the Future Middle:

αἰσθάνομαι —> αἰσθήσομαι (I shall perceive)
γίγνομαι —> γενήσομαι (I shall become, happen)
πυνθάνομαι —> πεύσομαι (I shall enquire)

Some ordinary verbs use the Middle voice for their Future Active Tense. Here are the ones to learn:

ἀκούω —> ἀκούσομαι (I shall hear)
βαίνω —> βήσομαι (I shall go)
γιγνώσκω —> γνώσομαι (I shall get to know)
διώκω —> διώξομαι (I shall chase) (Sometimes the Active διώξω is used)
ἐσθίω —> ἒδομαι (I shall eat)
λαμβάνω —> λήψομαι (I shall take)
μανθάνω —> μαθήσομαι (I shall learn)
πάσχω —> πείσομαι (I shall suffer) (Context will distinguish this from the future of πείθομαι which is identical)
φεύγω —> φεύξομαι (I shall run away)

AORIST MIDDLE TENSE:

Unlike the Present and Imperfect Middle forms, the Aorist Middle is formed differently to the Passive.

FIRST AORIST (WEAK) MIDDLE:

This is formed by:

Augment + Aorist Stem + Endings

*Be careful to not confuse the 2nd person singular ending in the First Aorist Middle for a 1st person singular ending!

The middle form παύομαι is often followed by a participle OR a genitive

E.g. ἐπαύσαντο τρέχοντες = They stopped running
E.g. ἐπαύσατο τῆς μάχης = He stopped the battle

Just like the Future and Aorist Active Indicative forms, watch out for the combination of certain consonants with the added sigma.

E.g. ἂρχομαι —> ἠρξάμην
E.g. δέχομαι —> ἐδεξάμην

Some deponent verbs have a First Aorist but have a slight stem change:

ἀποκρίνομαι (I answer, reply) —> ἀπεκρινάμην (I answered, replied)
μάχομαι (I fight) —> ἐμαχεσάμην (I fought)

SECOND AORIST (STRONG) MIDDLE:

This is formed by:

Augment + Second Aorist Stem + Imperfect Middle/Passive Endings

The Aorist stems in the middle form are the same as what they were in the active. If they were First Aorist Active, they are formed with the First Aorist Middle also!

Therefore, the Second Aorist stem changes are used again here - easy to remember if you have learnt them previously!

The Second Aorist stem is again important to learn since the endings here are identical to the Imperfect Middle/Passive endings.

These deponent verbs have a Second Aorist (Learn the stem change!):