A Summary of the Greek Verb, Middle and Passive Voices, Emphasizing its Dual Number and its Third Person in the Imperative Mood

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1 A Summary of the Greek Verb, Voices, Emphasizing its Number its Third Person in the Mood The English verb displays two numbers, a singular a plural. Its only imperative form is a second person imperative, which occurs both in the singular in the plural, but only in the present tense. In addition to a singular a plural, Greek possesses a dual number. It also possesses a third person imperative, both singular plural, in several tenses moods. The dual number of the verb is appropriate whenever the noun constituting the subject of the verb is exactly two in number. The subject may be in the second or in the third person, but it must consist in two entities. A very rare first person dual form is known in several poetic instances of the middle voice. We omit it here. The Greek noun also possesses a dual number. We will discuss it in a separate treatment. The second person of the dual number means you two ; the third person of the dual number means they two, which we must render either with the two of them or, using demonstratives, these two or those two. The first person dual would be rendered we two. When we issue a comm in the second person, we are speaking directly to the person or persons being commed; when we issue a comm in the third person, we are speaking with respect to the person or persons intended to receive the comm through a hypothetical intermediary second person. The second person dual imperative of the verb to loosen for oneself would be rendered, you two (or: the two of you) loosen for yourselves (λύεσθον). Unlike Greek, English has no simple means of formulating a comm in the third person; it must employ some form of circumlocution, for example, tell him to work or he had better work. It has become conventional to render the Greek third person imperative, when the number is singular or plural, by using the formula commonly employed in English to translate the Latin jussive subjunctive, a polite substitute for the inherently more blunt imperative, namely, let him loosen for himself (λυέσθω) or let them loosen for themselves (λυέσθων). Although this formula has become somewhat outmoded, it is relatively succinct remains intelligible, so we shall use it here. If the comm is dual in number, then the third person form may be rendered let the two of them loosen for themselves (λυέσθων). English is also at a loss to render adequately the third person form in the dual number of the other modes of the Greek verb. This form may be used when the speaker or writer is speaking about exactly two entities. When those two entities become the subject of a verb, the verb may (but need not) be put into the dual form, then it will be the third person form of the dual. If the subject is named explicitly, both the subjective noun the verb will usually take the dual form. In other moods of the verb, therefore, English must again use an analytical construction in order to render the dual number. As an example, the third person dual of λύοµαι is λύεσθον. We must render this single word by the two of them loosen/are loosening for themselves. If the dual subject is, let us say, the word boy, then we will have to say, the two boys are loosening for themselves. If we were using the dual in the second person, also λύεσθον in the present tense, then the foregoing sentences would become, you two are loosening for yourselves you two boys are loosening for yourselves. Note that here, in the dual present, even as in the plural present, the indicative the imperative show the same form (λύεσθον). The following pages display the full conjugation of the regular Greek verb in the middle passive voices, including in boldface the dual number, in the second third persons, the imperative mood, in the third person. Grammar. Greek. Verb. Number. Third Person Mood. All Tenses. Voices 1

2 : Subjunctive : Optative Imperfect - Stem: λυ- λύ-ομαι λύ-ει / -ῃ λύ-εται λυ-όμεθα λύ-εσθε λύ-ονται Imperfect ἐ-λυ-όμην ἐ-λυ -ου ἐ-λυ -ετο ἐ- ἐ-λυ-έσθην ἐ-λυ-όμεθα ἐ-λύ-εσθε ἐ-λυ -οντο λύ-ου λυ-ε σθω λυ-έσθων λύ-εσθε λυ-έσθων / -έσθωσαν λύ-ωμαι λύ-ῃ λύ-ῃται λύ-ησθον λύ-ησθον λυ-ω μεθα λύ-ησθε λύ-ωνται λυ-οι μην λύ-οιο λύ-οιτο λύ-οισθον λυ-οίσθην λυ-οίμεθα λύ-οισθε λύ-οιντο Stem: λυσ- λύ-σομαι λυ -σει / -ῃ λύ-σεται λύ-σεσθον λύ-σεσθον λυ-σόμεθα λύ-σεσθε λύ-σονται λυ-σοίμην λύ-σοιο λύ-σοιτο λύ-σοισθον λυ-σοίσθην λυ-σοίμεθα λύ-σοισθε λύ-σοιντο Stem: λυθηs- (λύω) λυ-θήσομαι λυ-θησει / -ῃ λυ-θήσεται λυ-θήσεσθον λυ-θήσεσθον λυ-θησόμεθα λυ-θήσεσθε λυ-θήσονται λυ-θησοίμην λυ-θήσοιο λυ-θήσοιτο λυ-θήσοισθον λυ-θησοίσθην λυ-θησόιμεθα λυ-θήσοισθε λυ-θήσοιντο Grammar. Greek. Verb. Number. Third Person Mood. All Tenses. Voices 2

3 : Subjunctive : Optative Stem: λυσα- ἐ-λυ-σα μην ἐ-λύ-σω ἐ-λυ -σατο ἐ-λύ-σασθον ἐ-λυ-σάσθην ἐ-λυ-σα μεθα ἐ-λύ-σασθε ἐ-λυ -σαντο λῦ-σαι λυ-σάσθω λύ-σασθον λυ-σάσθων λύ-σασθε λυ-σάσθων / -σάσθωσαν λύ-σωμαι λύ-σῃ λύ-σῃται λύ-σησθον λύ-σησθον λυ-σω μεθα λύ-σησθε λύ-σωνται λυ-σαι μην λύσ-αιο λύσ-αιτο λύ-σαισθον λυ-σαίσθην λυ-σαίμεθα λύ-σαισθε λύ-σαιντο Second or Strong Stem: λιπ- (λείπω) ἐ-λιπ-ο μην ἐ-λίπου ἔ-λιπ-ετο ἐ-λίπ-εσθον ἐ-λιπ-έσθην ἐ-λιπ-όμεθα ἐ-λίπ-εσθε ἐ-λίπ-οντο λίπ-ου λιπ-εσθω λίπ-εσθον λιπ-εσθων λίπ-εσθε λιπ-έσθων / -εσθωσαν λίπ-ωμαι λίπ-ῃ λίπ-ῃται λίπ-ησθον λίπ-ησθον λιπ-ω μεθα λίπ-ησθε λίπ-ωνται λιπ-οίμην λίπ-οιο λίπ-οιτο λίπ-οισθον λιπ-οι σθην λιπ-οίμεθα λίπ-οισθε λίπ-οιντο Stem: λυθη- (λύω) ἐ-λύ-θην ἐ-λύ-θης ἐ-λύ-θη ἐ-λύ-θητον ἐ-λυ-θήτην ἐ-λύ-θημεν ἐ-λύ-θητε ἐ-λύ-θησαν λύ-θητι λύ-θητω λύ-θητον λυ-θήτων λύ-θητε λυ-θέντων / -θήτωσαν λυ-θῶ λυ-θῇς λυ-θῇ λυ-θῆτον λυ-θῆτον λυ-θῶμεν λυ-θῆτε λυ-θῶσι(ν) λυ-θείην λυ-θείης λυ-θείη λυ-θείητον / -θειτον λυ-θειήτην / -θείτην λυ-θείημεν/ -θεῖμεν λυ-θείητε / -θεῖτε λυ-θεῖεν Grammar. Greek. Verb. Number. Third Person Mood. All Tenses. Voices 3

4 : Subjunctive : Optative - Stem: λελυ- (λύω) λέ-λυ-μαι λέ-λυ-σαι λέ-λυ-ται λέ -λυ-σθον λε-λύ-μεθα λέ-λυ-σθε λέ-λυ-νται ἐ-λε-λύ-μην ἐ-λέ-λυ-σο ἐ-λέ-λυ-το ἐ- ἐ-λε-λυ -σθην ἐ-λε-λύ-μεθα ἐ-λέ-λυ-σθε ἐ-λέ-λυ-ντο λέ-λυ-σο λε-λύ-σθω λε-λυ -σθων λέ-λυ-σθε λε-λυ -σθων / -σθωσαν λε-λυ-μένος λε-λυ-μένος ᾖς λε-λυ-μένος ᾖ λε-λυ-μένω ἦτον λε-λυ-μένω ἦτον λε-λυ-μένοι μεν λε-λυ-μένοι ἦτε λε-λυ-μένοι σι(ν) λε-λυ-μένος εἴην λε-λυ-μένος εἴης λε-λυ-μένος εἴη λε-λυ-μένω εἶτον λε-λυ-μένω εἶτην λε-λυ-μένοι εἶμεν λε-λυ-μένοι εἶτε λε-λυ-μένοι εἶεν Second or Strong - Stem: λελειπ- (λείπω) λέ-λειμ-μαι λέ-λειψ-αι λέ-λειπ-ται λε-λείμ-μεθα λέ-λειφ-θε λελειμμένοι εἰσί(ν) ἐ-λε-λείμ-μην ἐ-λέ-λειψ-ο ἐ-λέ-λειπ-το ἐ- ἐ-λε-λείφ-θην ἐ-λε-λείμ-μεθα ἐ-λέ-λειφ-θε λελειμμένοι ἦσαν λέ-λειψ-ο λε-λείφ-θω λε-λείφ-θων λέ-λειφ-θε λε-λείφ-θων / -θωσαν λε-λειμ-μένος λε-λειμ-μένος ᾖς λε-λειμ-μένος ᾖ λε-λειμ-μένω ἦτον λε-λειμ-μένω ἦτον λε-λειμ-μένοι μεν λε-λειμ-μένοι ἦτε λε-λειμ-μένοι σιν λε-λειμ-μένος εἴην λε-λειμ-μένος εἴης λε-λειμ-μένος εἴη λε-λειμ-μένω εἶτον λε-λειμ-μένω εἴτην λε-λειμ-μένοι εἴμεν λε-λειμ-μένοι εἶτε λε-λειμ-μένοι εἶεν - Stem: λελυσ- (λύω) λε-λύ-σοµαι λε-λύ-σει / -σῃ λε-λύ-σεται λε-λύ-σεσθον λε-λύ-σεσθον λε-λυ-σόμεθα λε-λυ -σεσθε λε-λύ-σονται λε-λυ-σοίµην λε-λύ-σοιο λε-λύ-σοιτο λε-λύ-σοισθον λε-λυ-σοίσθην λε-λυ-σοίμεθα λε-λύ-σοισθε λε-λύ-σοιντο Grammar. Greek. Verb. Number. Third Person Mood. All Tenses. Voices 4

5 Imperfect - Stem: λυ- Summary of the Number in the Greek Verb. Voices. All Recorded Tenses Moods Imperfect ἐ- ἐ-λυ-έσθην λυ-έσθων : Subjunctive λύ-ησθον λύ-ησθον : Optative λύ-οισθον λυ-οίσθην Stem: λυσ- λύ-σεσθον λύ-σεσθον λύ-σοισθον λυ-σοίσθην Stem: λυθηs- λυ-θήσεσθον λυ-θήσεσθον λυ-θήσοισθον λυ-θησοίσθην Stem: λυσα- ἐ-λύ-σασθον ἐ-λυ-σάσθην λύ-σασθον λυ-σάσθων λύ-σησθον λύ-σησθον λύ-σαισθον λυ-σαίσθην Second or Strong Stem: λιπ- ἐ-λίπ-εσθον ἐ-λιπ-έσθην λίπ-εσθον λιπ-εσθων λίπ-ησθον λίπ-ησθον λίπ-οισθον λιπ-οι σθην Stem: λυθη- ἐ-λύ-θητον ἐ-λυ-θήτην λύ-θητον λυ-θήτων λυ-θῆτον λυ-θῆτον λυ-θείητον / -θειτον λυ-θειήτην / -θείτην Grammar. Greek. Verb. Number. Third Person Mood. All Tenses. Voices 5

6 - Stem: λελυ- Summary of the Number in the Greek Verb. Voices. All Recorded Tenses Moods λέ -λυ-σθον ἐ- ἐ-λε-λυ -σθην λε-λυ -σθων : Subjunctive λε-λυ-μένω ἦτον λε-λυ-μένω ἦτον : Optative λε-λυ-μένω εἶτον λε-λυ-μένω εἶτην Second or Strong - Stem: λελειπ- ἐ- ἐ-λε-λείφ-θην λε-λείφ-θων λε-λειμ-μένω ἦτον λε-λειμ-μένω ἦτον λε-λειμ-μένω εἶτον λε-λειμ-μένω εἴτην - Stem: λελυσ- λε-λύ-σεσθον λε-λύ-σεσθον λε-λύ-σοισθον λε-λυ-σοίσθην Grammar. Greek. Verb. Number. Third Person Mood. All Tenses. Voices 6

7 Summary of the Mood in the Greek Verb. Voices. All Recorded Tenses Tense Voice To interpret the chart, see the notes at the foot of page 9. - λύ-ου λυ-ε σθω λυ-έσθων λύ-εσθε λυ-έσθων / -έσθωσαν be loosening yourself / be loosening for yourself / be having (it) loosened! let him be loosening himself / be loosening (it) for himself / be having (it) loosened! you two be loosening yourselves / be loosening (it) for yourselves / be having (it) loosened! let the two of them be loosening themselves / be loosening (it) for themselves / be having (it) loosened! be loosening yourselves / be loosening (it) for yourselves / be having (it) loosened! let them be loosening themselves / be loosening (it) for themselves / be having (it) loosened! First 1 st λῦ-σαι λυ-σάσθω λύ-σασθον λυ-σάσθων λύ-σασθε λυ-σάσθων / -σάσθωσαν loosen yourself / loosen (it) for yourself / have (it) loosened! [ do (have) loosened yourself!, etc] let him loosen himself / loosen (it) for himself / (have) (it) loosened! [ let him (have) loosened himself!, etc.] you two loosen yourselves / loosen (it) for yourselves / have (it) loosened! [ do (have) loosened yourselves!, etc.] let the two of them loosen themselves / loosen (it) for themselves / have (it) loosened! [ let the two of them (have) loosened themselves!, etc.] loosen yourselves / loosen (it) for yourselves / have (it) loosened! [ do (have) loosened yourselves!, etc.] let them loosen themselves / loosen (it) for themselves / have (it) loosened! [ let them (have) loosened themselves!, etc.] Second 2 nd λίπ-ου λιπ-εσθω λίπ-εσθον λιπ-εσθων λίπ-εσθε λιπ-έσθων / -εσθωσαν leave yourself / leave (it) for yourself / have (it) left! [ do (have) left yourself!, etc] let him leave himself / leave (it) for himself / (have) (it) left! [ let him (have) left himself!, etc.] you two leave yourselves / leave (it) for yourselves / have (it) left! [ do (have) left yourselves!, etc.] let the two of them leave themselves / leave (it) for themselves / have (it) left! [ let the two of them (have) left themselves!, etc.] leave yourselves / leave (it) for yourselves / have (it) left! [ do (have) left yourselves!, etc.] let them leave themselves / leave (it) for themselves / have (it) left! [ let them (have) left themselves!, etc.] Grammar. Greek. Verb. Number. Third Person Mood. All Tenses. Voices 7

8 Voice First Summary of the Mood in the Greek Verb. Voices. All Recorded Tenses To interpret the chart, see the notes at the foot of page 9. 1 st λύ-θητι λύ-θητω λύ-θητον λυ-θήτων λύ-θητε λυ-θέντων / -θήτωσαν be loosened! / [ (do have been) loosened! ] let him be loosened! / [ (do have let him) be loosened! ] you two be loosened! / [ you two (do have been) loosened! ] let the two of them be loosened! / [ let the two of them (have been) loosened! ] be loosened! / [ (do have been) loosened! ] let them be loosened! / [ let them (have been) loosened! ] First - 1 st λέ-λυ-σο λε-λύ-σθω λε-λυ -σθων λέ-λυ-σθε λε-λυ -σθων / -σθωσαν do have loosened for yourself!, etc. / do have been loosened!, etc. let him have loosened for himself!, etc. / let him have been loosened!, etc. you two do have loosened for yourselves!, etc. / you two do have been loosened!, etc. let the two of them have loosened for themselves!, etc. / let the two of them have been loosened!, etc. do have loosened for yourselves!, etc. / do have been loosened!, etc. let them have loosened for themselves!, etc. / let them have been loosened!, etc. First - 1 st λέ-λειψ-ο λε-λείφ-θω λε-λείφ-θων λέ-λειφ-θε λε-λείφ-θων / -θωσαν do have left for yourself!, etc. / do have been left!, etc. let him have left for himself!, etc. / let him have been left!, etc. you two do have left for yourselves!, etc. / you two do have been left!, etc. let the two of them have left for themselves!, etc. / let the two of them have been left!, etc. do have left for yourselves!, etc. / do have been left!, etc. let them have left for themselves!, etc. / let them have been left!, etc. Grammar. Greek. Verb. Number. Third Person Mood. All Tenses. Voices 8

9 Summary of the Mood in the Greek Verb. Voices. All Recorded Tenses Specialized Summary of the Third Person s in Classical Hellenistic Greek Tense Voice Classical Third Person Forms Hellenistic Third Person Forms First Second First First First λυέσθων λυσάσθων λιπέσθων λυθέντων λελυ σθων λελείφθων λυέσθωσαν λυσάσθωσαν λιπέσθωσαν λυθήθωσαν λελυ σθωσαν λιπέσθωσαν All historically confirmed imperative forms for the middle passive voices are included in the charts on pages seven eight. The chart at the top of page nine compares the Classical the Hellenistic forms of the third person plural imperative. Notice that the Hellenistic form simply takes the third person singular form attaches to it the versatile third person plural ending ñσαν. Second person imperatives, singular plural, are shown in a stard typeface; dual imperatives third person imperatives, singular plural, are shown in boldface. English lacks the dual number in every mood, in both the second the third person; it lacks the third person, singular plural, in the imperative mood. Moreover, English lacks a true imperative form in every person in the aorist the perfect tenses. Its only true imperative is a present imperative. It also lacks a true middle voice. As a consequence, it is impossible to render literally in ordinary English either the dual form in any mood or the third person form in the imperative mood; the difficulty is compounded where the aorist perfect tenses are concerned, the more so as the only possible device for rendering the aorist tense of the imperative leaves it indistinguishable from the perfect tense. We have therefore rendered all of the Greek imperatives with various somewhat contrived but intelligible English forms designed to show the true tense, to the extent possible. We have rendered the aorist imperative with a parenthesized English perfect tense form. We have rendered the third person forms using the same device conventionally employed to render the jussive subjunctive in Latin, namely, let him... let them..., where the subject of the verb becomes the direct object of an auxiliary verb ( let ), the verb itself is put into the infinitive form, thus, let him loosen. We have rendered the middle voice using an English reflexive other appropriately nuanced constructions. In all instances where alternate renderings are suggested, they are given following a forward slash, the varied portion of the rendering is underlined in order to indicate that the portion of the rendering not underlined belongs with all of the underlined alternatives. Grammar. Greek. Verb. Number. Third Person Mood. All Tenses. Voices 9