IRREGULAR VERBS

Whilst most verbs follow regular verb patterns and endings, there are some irregular verbs to learn seperately.

εἰμι = to be

The verb εἰμι (to be) is by far the most common irregular verb and one that is necessary to learn.

PRESENT TENSE:

Just like some regular endings, the ‘movable nu’ is present again - this is added if the next word starts with a vowel or if this is the last word in the sentence.

The verb εἰμί does not take an object. Instead, it takes a complement, another nominative.

E.g. ὁ ἀνήρ δοῦλος ἐστιν. = The man is a slave.

PRESENT PARTICIPLE - ὢν, ουσα, ὂν (οντ-) (SEE PARTICIPLES GRAMMAR SECTION)

PRESENT INFINTIVE - εἶναι

PRESENT IMPERATIVE - ἶσθι (sg.), ἒστε (pl.)

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE:

This is simply the endings of the present subjunctive alone, with no stem.

PRESENT OPTATIVE:

IMPERFECT TENSE:

Notice, the 1st person singular has a form identical to the 3rd person singular. The context will help to differentiate the two.

FUTURE TENSE:

The future tense resembles a middle voice in form.

FUTURE PARTICIPLE - ἐσόμενος, -η, -ον

FUTURE INFINITIVE - ἒσεσθαι

FUTURE OPTATIVE - ἐσοίμην etc.

εἶμι = I shall go

Here is where you need to be careful! εἶμι (I shall go) looks very similar to εἰμί (I am) - only accents differentiating them.

εἶμι is the FUTURE active of ἒρχομαι. Here is how it declines:

Whilst you are not required to learn accents for GCSE, in cases like this, they are important to recognise.

The second person singular is identical to the second person singular of εἰμί - context will tell you which one you should translate it as.

PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE:

This is formed by adding an iota to the beginning of the participles of εἰμί (ὢν, οὖσα, ὂν)

ἰών, ἰοῦσα, ἰόν (ἰοντ-)= going

PRESENT ACTIVE INFINITIVE:

This is also formed by adding an iota to the beginning of the infinitive of εἰμί

ἰέναι = to go

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE:

PRESENT OPTATIVE:

REMEMBER - In all parts except the indicative, the meaning is present rather than future.

δίδωμι = I give

For δίδωμι, only the future and aorist is needed to be learnt for GCSE.

FUTURE TENSE:

The Future is completely regular - just remember the stem change!

FUTURE INFINITIVE - δώσειν

AORIST TENSE:

The Aorist need to be learned as it is somewhat irregular.

Notice:

The singular forms have the usual First Aorist endings, without the sigma and an addition of a kappa.
The plural forms are very different - the omega in the stem shortens to an omicron (vowel shortening is common for verbs ending in -μι)