Introduction to Ancient Greek Unit 19 The Perfect System Part 2
The Perfect System Personal Endings: Middle
The Perfect System Personal Endings: Middle Building a Greek verb In the middle voice, the Perfect Tense uses the standard primary endings: -μαι = I (1 st sg) -μεθα = we (1 st pl) -σαι = you (2 nd sg) -σθε = y all (2 nd pl) -ται = (s)he, it (3 rd sg) -νται = they (3 rd pl)
The Perfect Tense The Perfect, Indicative, Middle of λύω (GPH p. 90) λέλυμαι λέλυσαι λέλυται λελύμεθα λέλυσθε λέλυνται
The Perfect Middle Consonant Stems
The Perfect Middle Consonant Stems The Perfect System: Middle Note that these middle endings are added to the verb stem without a thematic vowel, regardless of the verb s conjugation. If the verb stem ends in a vowel (e.g. λέλυμαι, κτλ), little difficulty is encountered. If the verb stem ends in a consonant, a number of sound changes arise. In some cases, no sound change could ever make the verb comfortable to pronounce in Greek. In such situations, Greek replaces the verb with a periphrastic verb form. We will learn more about these forms later in this lesson.
The Perfect Tense The Perfect, Indicative, Middle of δείκνυμι stem: δεικ- δέδειγμαι δέδειξαι δέδεικται δεδείγμεθα δέδειχθε δεδειγμένοι εἰσί Notice the following: 1. When the final consonant of a verb stem (here -κ) encounters the initial sound of the middle personal endings, sound changes occur. These changes, which we will see in the next few slides, are regular and predictable.
The Perfect Tense The Perfect, Indicative, Middle of δείκνυμι stem: δεικ- δέδειγμαι δέδειξαι δέδεικται δεδείγμεθα δέδειχθε δεδειγμένοι εἰσί Notice the following: 2. 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 *δέ-δεικ-νται). Greek instead uses a periphrastic verb form in such cases. More on this form later in this lesson.
The Greek Alphabet Review: Consonant Chart Labial Dental Palatal π τ κ = unvoiced β δ γ = voiced φ θ χ = aspirated ψ σ ξ = + σ μ ν γκ, γγ, γχ, γξ = nasals λ ρ = liquids
The Perfect Middle Consonant Stems Since the middle endings are added directly to the verb stem, certain regular sound changes occur when the middle endings meet consonant stems: Labials Palatals Dentals Nasals β, π, φ κ, γ, χ τ, δ, θ, ζ ν, μ before become become become become μ (μαι, μην ) μ γ σ σ σ (σαι, σο) ψ ξ drops out not used τ (ται, το) π κ σ ν θ (σθε, σθαι) φ χ σ ν
Or, to put it another way: The Perfect Middle Consonant Stems Stems Labials Palatals Dentals Nasals β, π, φ κ, γ, χ τ, δ, θ, ζ ν, μ become become become become μ (μαι, μην ) μμαι γμαι σμαι σμαι σ (σαι, σο) ψαι ξαι σαι not used τ (ται, το) πται κται σται νται θ (σθε, σθαι) φθε χθε σθε νθε
The Perfect Middle Consonant Stems The Perfect System: Middle Note that stems ending in a nasal (ν, μ) do not allow a form that has a personal ending beginning with σ (e.g. σαι, σο) For example: φαίνω, φανῶ, ἔφηνα (stem: φαν-) The 2nd pers. sg. should be *πέ-φαν-σαι. Greeks, however, avoided saying this form. In this case, just as they did in avoiding the 3rd pers. plural in all Perfect Middle verbs, a periphrastic verb form is preferred. *πέ-φαν-σαι è πεφασμένος εἶ
The Perfect Middle Consonant Stems γράφω, γράψω, ἔγραψα stem: γραφ- γέγραμμαι γέγραψαι γέγραπται γεγράμμεθα γέγραφθε γεγραμμένος εἰσί πείθω, πείσω, ἔπεισα stem: πειθπέπεισμαι πέπεισαι πέπεισται πεπείσμεθα πέπεισθε πεπεισμένοι εἰσί
The Perfect Middle Consonant Stems ἄγω, ἄξω, ἤγαγον stem: ἀγ- ἦγμαι ἦξαι ἦκται ἤγμεθα ἦχθε ἠγμένοι εἰσί φαίνω, φανῶ, ἔφηνα stem: φανπέφασμαι πεφασμένος εἶ πέφανται πεφάσμεθα πέφανθε πεφασμένοι εἰσί
The Perfect System Infinitives
The Perfect System Infinitives In the infinitive mood, the Perfect Tense uses the same endings as -μι verbs, with its persistent accent on the penult: -ναι = active -σθαι = middle λελυκέναι λελύσθαι δεδειχέναι δεδεῖχθαι
Review: Participles Present Active -ω verbs
Review: Participles Present Active -ω verbs The present active participle The pattern for present active participles is present stem + ντ + ς σα ν For -ω verbs, the combination with thematic vowel yields ων ουσα ον This is also the basic form of the most common and useful participles: the present active participle of εἰμί be
Review present participle active of εἰμί be GPH, p. 224 masculine forms singular Nom. ὤν Gen. ὄντος Dat. ὄντι Acc. ὄντα plural Nom. ὄντες Gen. ὄντων Dat. οὖσι Acc. ὄντας nom. sg.: οντς ονς ων dat. pl.: οντσι ονσι ουσι
Review present participle active of εἰμί be GPH, p. 224 feminine forms singular Nom. οὖσα Gen. οὔσης Dat. οὔσῃ Acc. οὖσαν plural Nom. οὖσαι Gen. οὐσῶν Dat. οὔσαις Acc. οὔσας These are the same endings used by δόξα ης ἡ glory, judgment, opinion in Unit 8
Review present participle active of εἰμί be GPH, p. 224 neuter forms singular Nom. ὄν Gen. ὄντος Dat. ὄντι Acc. ὄν plural Nom. ὄντα Gen. ὄντων Dat. οὖσι Acc. ὄντα nom. sg.: οντ ον dat. pl.: οντσι ονσι ουσι
The Perfect System Active Participles
The Perfect System Active Participles The perfect active participle The pattern of the perfect active participle is similar to the present, except that: 1. the -ν- has dropped out: perfect stem + οτ + ς σα (3-1-3 adjective) 2. feminine forms have -υι- instead of -ουσ- Due to sound changes, the pattern for the nominative singular perfect active participle results in: perfect stem + ώς υῖα ός the persistent accent for all forms is on the penult
Participles Perfect Active Participle of λύω loosen masculine forms singular Nom. λελυκώς Gen. λελυκότος Dat. λελυκότι Acc. λελυκότα plural Nom. λελυκότες Gen. λελυκότων Dat. λελυκόσι Acc. λελυκότας nom. sg.: οτς ως dat. pl.: οτσι οσι
Participles Perfect Active Participle of λύω loosen feminine forms singular Nom. λελυκυῖα Gen. λελυκυίας Dat. λελυκυίᾳ Acc. λελυκυῖαν plural Nom. λελυκυῖαι Gen. λελυκυιῶν Dat. λελυκυίαις Acc. λελυκυίας Compared to the present active participle, these forms have -υι- instead of -ουσ-
Participles Perfect Active Participle of λύω loosen neuter forms singular Nom. λελυκός Gen. λελυκότος Dat. λελυκότι Acc. λελυκός plural Nom. λελυκότα Gen. λελυκότων Dat. λελυκόσι Acc. λελυκότα nom. sg.: οτ ος dat. pl.: οτσι ωσι
I Know Perfect Active Indicative of οἶδα know (GPH p. 166)
I Know Perfect Active Indicative of οἶδα know (GPH p. 166) The verb know is common in Greek. It is formed in the perfect tense from the stem ἰδ-, which means see (the root of which also serves as the aorist for ὁράω see ). Because of its relative antiquity, it retains some irregularities in its formation that must be memorized. In the perfect οἶδα literally means have seen However, it regularly translates as know in the present tense = you have seen, so now you know.
I Know Perfect Active Indicative of οἶδα know (GPH p. 166) οἶδα οἶσθα imperative: ἴσθι οἶδε infinitive: εἰδέναι ἴσμεν ἴστε ἴσασι participle: εἰδώς υῖα ός
Review: Participles Middle Voice
Review: Participles Middle Voice Middle participles: present, future, and aorist All participles in the middle voice have the marker -μεν-. All participles in the middle voice use ος η ον (2-1-2) endings. In other words, to form the present, future, or aorist middle participle, simply add μενος μένη μενον to the appropriate tense stem. Thematic verbs (-ω verbs) always include an ο before these endings; athematic verbs (-μι verbs) do not.
Review: Participles Middle Voice Middle participles λυόμενος λυομένη λυόμενον (present) λυσόμενος λυσομένη λυσόμενον (future) λυσάμενος λυσαμένη λυσάμενον (aorist) λαβομένος λαβομένη λαβομένον (aorist) Note that the accent remains fixed on the -μενmarker for 2nd aorists. δεικνύμενος -η -ον (present)
Perfect Participles Middle Voice
Perfect Participles Middle Voice Middle participles λελυμένος λελυμένη λελυμένον (perfect) δεδειγμένος δεδειγμένη δεδειγμένον (perfect) Note that the accent remains fixed on the -μενmarker (the penult). Note that the -ω verbs do not add a thematic vowel before the -μένος ending in the perfect.
The Perfect Tense Periphrastic Verbs
The Perfect Tense Periphrastic Verbs In all languages, certain verb tenses are expressed not by one inflected form, but by two or more words that together express a single verbal action. Such combinations of words are called periphrastic (< Greek περίφρασις talking around or circumlocution ). For example, in the English present tense, we can say He goes and He does go. He goes : not periphrastic. The action is expressed in one verb form. He does go : periphrastic, since both words together form one verbal action. In English, we lack a single form to express the future tense, so it is always periphrastic: He will go.
The Perfect Tense Periphrastic Verbs Both Greek and English lack single verb forms that are both perfect tense and passive voice. Both languages use combinations of a participle and auxiliary verbs to convey the perfect passive. e.g. in English, The ball has been kicked. Even when Greek has a perfect tense in the middle voice that can be expressed in one form, it is not unusual to use the periphrastic construction instead. When forming periphrastic forms of the perfect tense in the middle or passive voice, Greek uses the perfect middle participle and the form of the verb εἰμί that matches the subject of the verb in person and number.
The Perfect Tense Periphrastic Verbs The Perfect System: Passive Voice Greek can use either the perfect middle or a periphrastic construction to expresses the passive of the perfect system Context will usually let you know whether the voice is intended to be middle or passive. ὁ νόμος γέγραπται. or ὁ νόμος γεγραμμένος ἐστιν. The law has been written down. οἱ νόμοι γεγραμμένοι εἰσιν. The laws have been written down.
The Perfect Tense Periphrastic Verbs The Perfect System: Middle Voice As we saw in our discussion of perfect middle consonant stem verbs, Greek prefers to have a periphrastic construction in the 3rd pers. pl.: ὁ παῖς δέδειγμαι. The boy has shown himself οἱ παίδες δεδειγμένοι εἰσί. The boys have shown themselves. note: the participle δεδειγμένοι is nominative masculine plural, matching the subject, οἱ παίδες. Since the subject is 3rd pers. pl., so is the form of εἰμί, which is εἰσί. e.g. αἱ γυναῖκες δεδειγμέναι εἰσί. The women have shown themselves.
The Pluperfect Tense Introduction
The Pluperfect Tense Introduction The Perfect System Greek tenses differ in what is called aspect. The perfect states that an action is completed now. The pluperfect states that an action was completed in the past. For example: I have come. Perfect: the speaker has now arrived. I had come. Pluperfect: the speaker arrived some time in the past.
The Pluperfect Tense Introduction The Perfect System The pluperfect tense, like the imperfect, exists only in the indicative mood. Like any indicative tense that refers to an event in the past, the pluperfect adds an augment prefixed to the perfect stem. The active pluperfect also adds a tense marker -κ-.
The Pluperfect Tense Personal Endings: Active The Pluperfect Tense is a secondary tense and so uses a variation of secondary personal endings. These endings most closely resemble the -μι conjugation. -η = I (1 st sg) -εμεν = we (1 st pl) -ης = you (2 nd sg) -ετε = y all (2 nd pl) -ει = (s)he, it (3 rd sg) -εσαν = they (3 rd pl)
The Pluperfect Tense The Pluperfect, Indicative, Active of λύω (GPH p. 91) ἐλελύκη ἐλελύκης ἐλελύκει λελύκεμεν ἐλελύκετε ἐλελύκεσαν
The Pluperfect Tense Pluperfect Active Indicative of οἶδα know (GPH p. 166)
The Pluperfect Tense Pluperfect Active Indicative of οἶδα know (GPH p. 166) ᾔδη or ᾔδειν ᾔδησθα or ᾔδεις ᾔδει(ν) ᾖσμεν or ᾔδεμεν ᾖστε or ᾔδετε ᾖσαν or ᾔδεσαν This verb is an irregularly formed pluperfect tense from the stem εἰδ-, which means see (the root of which also serves as the aorist for ὁράω). The pluperfect literally means had seen but it regularly means knew (in the sense that what you had seen you knew and understood).
The Pluperfect Tense Personal Endings: Middle
The Pluperfect Tense Personal Endings: Middle Building a Greek verb In the middle voice, the Pluperfect Tense adds the standard secondary endings to the pluperfect stem: -μην = I (1 st sg) -μεθα = we (1 st pl) -σο = you (2 nd sg) -σθε = y all (2 nd pl) -το = (s)he, it (3 rd sg) -ντο = they (3 rd pl)
The Pluperfect Tense The Pluperfect, Indicative, Middle of λύω (GPH p. 90) ἐλελύμην ἐλέλυσο ἐλέλυτο ἐλελύμεθα ἐλέλυσθε ἐλέλυντο
The Pluperfect Tense Periphrastic Verbs The Perfect System Greek often expresses the passive of the pluperfect tense using periphrastic constructions. Like the perfect passive, Greek uses a perfect participle along with a form of εἰμί. In the pluperfect, however, the form of εἰμί is imperfect. ὁ νόμος γεγραμμένος ἦν. The law had been written down. οἱ νόμοι γεγραμμένοι ἦσαν. The laws had been written down.