Greek 1001 Elementary Greek

Ancient Greek for Everyone:A New Digital Resource for Beginning Greek as taught at Louisiana State UniversityFall 2013Richard WargaUnit 19: The Perfect System1Ancient Greek for EveryoneThis class (someday, Month ##, 2013)AGE Unit 19: The Perfect SystemYou have learned four tenses of Greek verbs: the present, future, imperfect and aorist. This Unit presents the final tenses, those of the Perfect System. 2Elementary GreekThe Perfect System You have learned four tenses of Greek verbs: the present, future, imperfect and aorist. The final tenses you learn differ from those you have already learned in aspect. The tenses of the Perfect System comprise those which refer to completed action. The Latin word perfectum means complete and is the origin of the name of this set of tenses. It does not mean flawless or the like in the English sense of the word. 3Elementary GreekFrom Unit 13: The aorist tense of Greek verbs: Both the imperfect and aorist tenses describe actions in the past. They differ in what is called aspect. The aorist conveys a single, discreet action. This is the more common, default tense for referring to action in the past. The imperfect conveys activity that was more than a single action in some way. For example: I walked. Aorist: think of a single image of the speaker in the act of walking. I was walking. Imperfect: think of an ongoing video of the speaker walking. 4Elementary GreekThe Perfect System Greek tenses differ in what is called aspect. The aorist conveys a single, discreet action. This is the more common, default tense for referring to action in the past. The imperfect conveys activity that was ongoing in some way. The perfect states that an action is completed. For example: I went. Aorist: the speaker travelled from point A to point B. I was going. Imperfect: the speaker was on the way from point A to point B. I have come. Perfect: the speaker has now arrived at point B. 5Elementary GreekThe Perfect System Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers: ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of the verbs stem. This addition is called the reduplication.In the ACTIVE voice, verbs add the suffix to the verb stem before any other ending. When adding to the verb stem is too difficult to pronounce, the merges or drops out. 6Elementary GreekThe Perfect System Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers: ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of the verbs stem. This addition is called the reduplication. loosen + reduplication - - (perfect stem) show + reduplication - - (perfect stem) write + reduplication - - (perfect stem) 7Elementary GreekThe Perfect System Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers: ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of the verbs stem. This addition is called the reduplication.Greek verb stems starting with a vowel effectively add an augment: lead, rule, begin + reduplication - - (perfect stem) want + reduplication - - (perfect stem) 8Elementary GreekThe Perfect System Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers: ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of the verbs stem. This addition is called the reduplication.Greek verbs will not duplicate an aspiration or a sigma: put, make + reduplication - - (perfect stem) stand + reduplication - - (perfect stem) 9Elementary GreekThe Perfect System Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers: ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of the verbs stem. This addition is called the reduplication.In the active voice, the perfect stem adds the marker . - (perfect stem)+ - (perfect active stem) - (perfect stem) + - (perfect active stem) 10Elementary GreekThe Perfect System Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers: ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of the verbs stem. This addition is called the reduplication.In the active voice, the perfect stem add the marker . When adding to the verb stem is too difficult to pronounce, the merges or drops out. - (perfect stem) + - (perfect active stem) - (perfect stem) + - (perfect active stem) 11Elementary GreekThe Perfect System Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers: ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of the verbs stem. This addition is called the reduplication.In the active voice, the perfect stem add the marker . When adding to the verb stem is too difficult to pronounce, the merges or drops out. - (perfect stem) + - (perfect active stem) - (perfect stem)+ - (perfect active stem) 12Elementary GreekAlthough advanced vocabulary lists and lexica give six principal parts for Greek verbs, you are responsible for only the first three. For most reading purposes at the beginning and intermediate levels, these three are sufficient. The fourth principal part in an advanced vocabulary list of six principal parts of Greek verbs will be the perfect active stem. This principal part is given because this stem is not always completely predictable, with minor, but complex, variations. Be aware, too, that many verbs never occur (or are extremely rare) in perfect tenses, and so do not even have a fourth principal part. If you understand the principles of building perfect stems, you should be able to recognize them when they appear. 13Elementary GreekBuilding a Greek verbThe Perfect Tense is a primary tense and so uses a variation of primary endings:

- = I (1st sg) - = we (1st pl) - = you (2nd sg) - = yall (2nd pl) - = (s)he, it (3rd sg) - = they (3rd pl)

These endings most closely resemble the - conjugation active part of the Primary Personal Endings on the Master List of Greek Endings. 14Elementary Greek Building a Greek VerbThe Perfect Indicative Active of (GPH p. 90) 15Elementary Greek Building a Greek VerbThe Perfect Indicative Active of 16Elementary GreekBuilding a Greek verbIn the middle voice, the Perfect Tense uses primary endings:

- = I (1st sg) - = we (1st pl) - = you (2nd sg) - = yall (2nd pl) - = (s)he, it (3rd sg) - = they (3rd pl)

These endings are the standard ones from the Primary Personal Endings on the Master List of Greek Endings. 17Elementary Greek Building a Greek VerbThe Perfect Indicative Middle of (GPH p. 90) 18Elementary GreekAlthough advanced vocabulary lists and lexica give six principal parts for Greek verbs, you are responsible for only the first three. For most reading purposes at the beginning and intermediate levels, these three are sufficient. The fifth principal part in an advanced vocabulary list of six principal parts of Greek verbs will be the 1st person singular perfect indicative middle. This principal part is given because this form is not always completely predictable, with minor, but complex, variations. Be aware, too, that many verbs never occur (or are extremely rare) in perfect tenses, and so do not even have a fifth principal part. If you understand the principles of building perfect stems, you should be able to recognize them when they appear. 19Ancient Greek for EveryoneCONSONANTS LabialDentalPalatalp t k= unvoiced b d g= voiced ph th kh= aspirated ps s ks= + m n , , , ng nasals l r = liquids20Elementary Greek See section on periphrastic forms with participles. Building a Greek VerbThe Perfect Indicative Middle of Notice that a final consonant of a verb stem (here -) assimilates to the initial sound of the personal ending.

In practice, Greek avoided many forms that are difficult to pronounce and did not even try to say the third person plural form in this case (which would require somehow pronouncing *--). 21Elementary GreekBuilding a Greek verbIn the infinitive mood, the Perfect Tense the same endings as - verbs:

- = active - = middle

These endings are the same endings as for - verbs on the Master List of Greek Endings. 22Elementary GreekFrom Unit 17: The present active participle The pattern for present active participles is present stem + + For - verbs, the combination with thematic vowel yields One of the most common and useful participles is the present active participle of be

The masculine forms will be familiar from the noun , ruler in Unit 3. In fact, this word is actually a participle that was used so much it was also used as a noun. 23Elementary GreekThe perfect active participle The pattern for the present active participle of - verbs is present stem +

The pattern for the perfect active participle is present stem +

The pattern of the perfect active participle is basically the same as for the present, except that the -- has dropped out.

24Elementary GreekFrom Unit 17: The present active participlepresent participle active of be masculine formssingularNom. Gen. Dat. Acc. pluralNom. Gen. Dat. Acc. nom. sg.: dat. pl.: 25Elementary GreekThe perfect active participleperfect participle active of masculine formssingularNom. Gen. Dat. Acc. pluralNom. Gen. Dat. Acc. nom. sg.: dat. pl.: 26Elementary GreekFrom Unit 17: The present active participlepresent participle active of be feminine formssingularNom. Gen. Dat. Acc. pluralNom. Gen. Dat. Acc. These are the same endings used by glory, judgment, opinion in Unit 827Elementary GreekThe perfect active participleperfect participle active of feminine formssingularNom. Gen. Dat. Acc. pluralNom. Gen. Dat. Acc. Compared to the present active participle, these forms have -- instead of --28Elementary GreekFrom Unit 17: The present active participle present participle active of be neuter formssingularNom. Gen. Dat. Acc. = nom. pluralNom. Gen. Dat. Acc. = nom.nom. sg.: dat. pl.: 29Elementary GreekThe perfect active participleperfect participle active of neuter formssingularNom. Gen. Dat. Acc. pluralNom. Gen. Dat. Acc. nom. sg.: dat. pl.: 30Elementary Greek imperative:

infinitive:

participle: Building a Greek VerbThe Perfect Active of (GPH p. 166) This verb is an irregularly formed perfect tense from the stem -, which means see (the root of which also serves as the aorist for see).

In the perfect literally means have seen but it regularly means know (in the sense that what you have seen you know and understand). 31Elementary GreekFrom Unit 17: Middle participles All participles in the middle voice have the marker --. All participles in the middle voice use endings.

In other words, wherever the personal ending (or infinitive ending) would be, substitute: 32Elementary GreekMiddle participles (present) (future) (aorist) (aorist) Note that the accent remains fixed on the -- marker. - - (present)

(perfect) (perfect) Note that the accent remains fixed on the -- marker.

33Elementary GreekIn all languages, ideas that are complex or unorthodox are sometimes expressed with a combination of words, even when a single word might technically cover the same meaning. Such combinations of words are called periphrastic (< Greek talking around). Both Greek and English lack single verb forms that are simultaneously, and unambiguously, both perfect tense and passive voice. Both languages use combinations of a participle and auxiliary verbs to convey the perfect passive. Even when Greek has a perfect tense in the middle voice that can be pressed into service as a passive, it is not unusual to use the periphrastic construction instead. 34Elementary GreekThe Perfect System Greek often expresses the passive of the perfect system using periphrastic constructions: . or . The law has been written down. The law is written down.

. The laws have been written down. The laws are written down.

35Elementary GreekThe Perfect System Greek tenses differ in what is called aspect. The perfect states that an action is completed. The pluperfect states that an action was completed in the past. The Latin plus perfectum means more complete, the origin of the name of this tense.

For example: I have come. Perfect: the speaker has now arrived. I had come. Pluperfect: the speaker arrived some time in the past.

36Elementary GreekThe Perfect System The pluperfect tense, like the imperfect, exists only in the indicative mood. Like any tense that refers to an historical event in the (indicative) past, the pluperfect adds an augment prefixed to the (perfect) stem.

37Elementary GreekBuilding a Greek verbThe Pluperfect Tense is a secondary tense and so uses a variation of secondary endings:

- = I (1st sg) - = we (1st pl) - = you (2nd sg) - = yall (2nd pl) - = (s)he, it (3rd sg) - = they (3rd pl)

These endings most closely resemble the - conjugation active part of the Secondary Personal Endings on the Master List of Greek Endings. 38Elementary Greek Building a Greek VerbThe Pluperfect Indicative Active of (GPH p. 91) 39Elementary Greek or or ()

or or or

Building a Greek VerbThe Pluperfect Active of (GPH p. 166) This verb is an irregularly formed pluperfect tense from the stem -, which means see (the root of which also serves as the aorist for ).

The pluperfect literally means had seen but it regularly means knew (in the sense that what you had seen you knew and understood). 40Elementary GreekBuilding a Greek verbIn the middle voice, the Pluperfect Tense uses secondary endings:

- = I (1st sg) - = we (1st pl) - = you (2nd sg) - = yall (2nd pl) - = (s)he, it (3rd sg) - = they (3rd pl)

These endings are the standard ones from the Secondary Personal Endings on the Master List of Greek Endings. 41Elementary Greek Building a Greek VerbThe Perfect Indicative Middle of (GPH p. 90) 42Elementary GreekThe Perfect System Greek often expresses the passive of the perfect system using periphrastic constructions: . or . The law had been written down. The law was written down.

. The laws had been written down. The laws were written down.

43Elementary GreekA Greek verb by itself usually communicates FIVE pieces of information: Person: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Number: singular, plural Tense: present, future, imperfect, aorist, perfect, pluperfect, Mood: indicative, infinitive, imperative, participleVoice: active, middle 44Elementary GreekClassical Vocabulary (or shortened to ) fear resemble, seem know

These verbs exist only in the Perfect System. Except for the forms of given earlier, they are regular, just lacking tenses outside the Perfect System. 45Elementary GreekNew Testament Vocabulary (defective) know

In later Greek like the Koine of the NT, the plural forms of the perfect of this verb are regularized to , , (in contrast to the forms given earlier for Classical Greek).

46Elementary GreekNext class (someday, Month ##, 2013)Unit 19 Biblical reading. Unit 19 Classical reading. Be able to: read the sentences aloud parse each verb, noun and pronoun translate the sentences into English. 47