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Course Notes for Greek Grammar II – 412 A & B
Review from Greek Grammar I
NOUNS (Second Declension)
1. There are three declensions in Greek.
- 1st Declension (a sound predominates)
- 2nd Declension (o sound predominates)
- 3rd Declension (consonant stems predominate)
2. There are eight cases when dealing with nouns:
1) Nominative
- designation
- the naming case
- It is typically the subject of a sentence
- Ex. = oJ a[nqrwpoV ginwvskei
2) Genitive (“of”)
- description
- attributes quality to the word it modifies
- speaks of possession
- Ex. = oJ oi\koV tou: ajnqrwvpou
3) Ablative (often combined with the Genitive) (“from”)
- separation
- uses the same form as the Genitive
- Ex. = oJ a[vnqrwpoV pevmpei tou;V douvlouV tou: oi[kou
4) Dative (“to”)
- Interest
- Used often to express the indirect object of a verb
- Ex. = oJ ajpovstoloV levgei lovgouV toi:V ajnqrwvpoiV
5) Locative (often combined with the dative) (“in”)
- Location or Position
- Uses the same form as the Dative
- Ex. = oJ a[nqrwpoV didavskei tw/: oi[kw/
6) Instrumental (often combined with the dative) (“by”)
- Means
- Uses the same form as the Dative
- Ex. = oJ a[nqrwpoV didavskei lovgoiV
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7) Accusative
- Limitation
- It marks the limit or end of an action
- Mainly used as the direct object of a verb
- Ex. = oJ a[nqrwpoV levgei lovgouV
8) Vocative
- Address
- Ex. = ajdelfev, blevpw oi\kon
3. A Greek noun is identified in three ways:
1) Case
2) Gender – masculine, feminine, neuter
3) Number – singular or plural
4. A Greek noun may or may not have the definite article:
- without the definite article (a[nqrwpoV = “man” or “a man”)
- with the definite article (oJ a[nqrwpoV = “the man”)
5. Declension examples of the 2nd Declension:
Singular
Nom.
Gen.
Abl.
Dat.
Loc.
Ins.
Acc.
Voc.
Plural
oJ a[nqrwpoV (the man)
tou: ajnqrwvpou (of the man)
tou: ajnqrwvpou (from the man)
tw/: ajnqrwvpw/ (to the man)
tw/: ajnqrwvpw/ (in the man)
tw/: ajnqrwvpw (by the man)
to;n a[nqrwpon (the man)
a[nqrwpoi (man)
oiJ a[nqrwpoi (the men)
tw:n ajnqrwvpwn (of the men)
tw:n ajnqrwvpwn (from the men)
toi:V ajnqrwvpoiV
(to the men)
toi:V ajnqrwvpoiV (in the men)
toi:V ajnqrwvpoiV (by the men)
tou;V ajnqrwpouV (the men)
a[nqrwpoi (men)
Neuter
Singular
Nom.
Gen.
Abl.
Dat.
Loc.
Ins.
Acc.
to; dw:ron
tou: dwvrou
tou: dwvrou
tw/: dwvrw/
tw/: dwvrw/
tw/: dwvrw/
to; dw:ron
Plural
ta; dw:ra
tw:n dwvrwn
tw:n dwvrwn
toi:V dwvroiV
toi:V dwvroiV
toi:V dwvroiV
ta; dw:ra
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PERSONAL PRONOUNS
1. The personal pronoun of the first person is as follows:
Nom.
Gen.
Abl.
Dat.
Loc.
Ins.
Acc.
Singular
Plural
ejgwv = I
ejmou: or mou = of me
ejmou: or mou = from me
ejmoiv or moi = to me
ejmoiv or moi = in me
ejmoiv or moi = by me
ejmev or me = me
hJmei:V = we
hJmw:n = of us
hJmw:n = from us
hJmi:n = to us
hJmi:n = in us
hJmi:n = by us
hJma:V = us
2. The personal pronoun of the second person is as follows:
Nom.
Gen.
Abl.
Dat.
Loc.
Ins.
Acc.
Singular
Plural
suv = you
sou: or sou = of you
sou: or sou = from you
soiv or soi = to you
soiv or soi = in you
soiv or soi = by you
sev or se = you
uJmei:V = you
uJmw:n = of you
uJmw:n = from you
uJmi:n = to you
uJmi:n = in you
uJmi:n = by you
uJma:V = you
3. The personal pronoun of the third person is declined as follows:
Nom.
Gen.
Abl.
Dat.
Loc.
Ins.
Acc.
Singular Masculine
Plural Masculine
aujtovV = he
aujtou: = of him
aujtou: = from him
aujtw/: = to him
aujtw/ = in him
aujtw/ = by him
aujtovn = him
aujtoiv = they
aujtw:n = of them
aujtw:n = from them
aujtoi:V = to them
aujtoi:V = in them
aujtoi:V = by them
aujtouvV = them
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Nom.
Gen.
Abl.
Dat.
Loc.
Ins.
Acc.
Nom.
Gen.
Abl.
Dat.
Loc.
Ins.
Acc.
Singular Feminine
Plural Feminine
aujthv = she
aujth:V = of her
aujth:V = from her
aujth/: = to her
aujth/: = in her
aujth/: = by her
aujthvn = her
aujtaiv = they
aujtw:n = of them
aujtw:n = from them
aujtai:V = to them
aujtai:V = in them
aujtai:V = by them
aujtavV = them
Singular Neuter
Plural Neuter
aujtov = it
aujtou: = of it
aujtou: = from it
aujtw/: = to it
aujtw/: = in it
aujtw/: = by it
aujtov = it
aujtav = they
aujtw:n = of them
aujtw:n = from them
aujtoi:V = to them
aujtoi:V = in them
aujtoi:V = by them
aujtav = it
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DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS
The Remote Demonstrative:
Singular
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
ejkei:noV
ejkeivnou
ejkeivnw/
ejkei:non
ejkeivnh
ejkeivnhV
ejkeivnh/
ejkeivnhn
ejkei:no
ejkeivnou
ejkeivnw/
ejkei:no
Plural
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
ejkei:noi
ejkeivnwn
ejkeivnoiV
ejkeivnouV
ejkei:nai
ejkeivnwn
ejkeivnaiV
ejkeivnaV
ejkei:na
ejkeivnwn
ejkeivnoiV
ejkei:na
1. The remote demonstrative points to something further removed.
2. The remote demonstrative is typically translated, “that.”
The Near Demonstrative:
Singular
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masculine
Feminine
ou|toV
touvtou
touvtw/
tou:ton
au{th
tauvthV
tauvth/
tauvthn
Neuter
tou:to
touvtou
touvtw/
tou:to
Plural
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
ou|toi
touvtwn
touvtoiV
tou:touV
au|tai
touvtwn
tauvtaiV
tauvtaV
tau:ta
touvtwn
touvtoiV
tau:ta
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1. The near demonstrative points to something near at hand.
2. The near demonstrative is typically translated “this.”
*Rules for both remote and near demonstratives:
1. When used by itself in a sentence, it is used like a substantive:
Ex. – ou|toV blevpei to;n oi\kon.
Ex. – ejkei:noV ginwvskei to;n ajpovstolon.
2. When used in conjunction with a noun, the demonstrative
pronoun takes on the force of an adjective:
Ex. – ou|toV oJ a[nqrwpoV
Ex. – blevpw ejkeivnhn th;n ejkklhsivan
PRESENT INDICATIVE
Understanding the Present Indicative:
1. First, all verbs are indentified in five different ways:
1) tense
- Tense is the quality of a verb that deals with action.
- There is first of all “time of action” (past, present, future).
- There is also “kind of action” (linear or punctiliar)
2) voice
- Voice is an indicator of the relationship between verb & subject.
- There are three types of voice: active, passive, middle
3) mood
- Mood helps to discover the relation of action to reality.
- The action is either actually taking place, or is potential.
4) person (first, second, third)
5) number (singular or plural)
2. The present tense indicates progressive action at the present time.
3. The indicative mood relates the reality of action from the viewpoint of the
speaker.
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The Present Active Indicative of luvw
luvw –
luvomen –
luveiV –
luvete –
luvei –
luvousi –
The Present Passive and Middle Indicative of luvw
Present Passive
luvomai luvh/ luvetai -
luovmeqa –
luvesqe –
luvontai –
Present Middle
luvomai luvh/ luvetai -
luovmeqa –
luvesqe –
luvontai –
IMPERFECT INDICATIVE (Chapter 8 in Hewett’s Grammar)
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Imperfect Active Indicative
Singular
Plural
1st
e[luon -
ejluvomen –
2nd
e[lueV -
ejluvete –
3rd
e[lue -
e[luon –
Imperfect Middle Indicative
Singular
Plural
1st
ejluovmhn -
ejluovmeqa –
2nd
ejluvou -
ejluvesqe –
3rd
ejluveto -
ejluvonto –
Imperfect Passive Indicative
Singular
Plural
1st
ejluovmhn -
ejluovmeqa –
2nd
ejluvou -
ejluvesqe –
3rd
ejluveto -
ejluvonto –
1. How to form the imperfect:
augment + present stem + secondary active endings
e
+
lu
+
on
e[luon
- Verbs beginning with a consonant add the e for the augment. This is
called a syllabic augment.
- Verbs beginning with a vowel form a temporal augment by lengthening
the vowel to the corresponding long vowel. See examples below:
ajkouvw becomes h[kouon
ejgeivrw becomes h[geiron
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e lengthens to h
o lengthens to w
a lengthens to h
2. How to use the imperfect:
- The imperfect is best described as continuous action in past time.
- It can best be illustrated by a single line (
).
- The function of the imperfect can be translated four different ways:
1) Progressive Past action (Descriptive)
ejlavlei – “he was speaking” (Acts 18:25)
2) Attempted Past action (Conative)
diekwvluen – “he tried to prevent” (Matthew 3:14)
3) Repeated Past action (Iterative)
hujlivzeto – “he kept on spending the night (Luke 21:37)
4) Beginning a Past Action
periepavtei – “he began walking about” (John 5:9)
3. Note the imperfect indicative of eijmiv:
h[mhn -
h\men –
h\V -
h\te –
h\n -
h\san –
FUTURE INDICATIVE (Chapters 2 and 11 in Hewett’s Grammar)
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Future Active Indicative
Singular
Plural
1st
luvsw -
luvsomen –
2nd
luvseiV -
luvsete –
3rd
luvsei -
luvsousi –
Future Middle Indicative
Singular
Plural
1st
luvsomai -
lusovmeqa –
2nd
luvsh/ -
luvsesqe –
3rd
luvsetai -
luvsontai –
Future Passive Indicative
Singular
Plural
1st
luqhvsomai -
luqhsovmeqa –
2nd
luqhvsh/ -
luqhvsesqe –
3rd
luqhvsetai -
luqhvsontai –
1. How to form the future active and middle indicative:
primary stem + s + primary endings = future
lu
+ s +
w
= luvsw
2. How to form the future passive indicative:
primary aorist stem + s + passive personal endings
luqh
+ s + omai
= luqhvsomai
3. There are stem changes in the future tense that need mentioning:
a. Verb stems ending in l, m, n, r (your liquid consonants) typically
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drop the s and the accent is placed upon the w. An example of this
can be found in the word mevnsw. This word then becomes menw:.
b. Your mute consonants undergo the following changes:
1) A palatal k, g, c before a s becomes x:
Ex. – a[gw becomes a[xw
2) A labial p, b, f before a s becomes y:
Ex. – blevpw becomes blevyw
3) A dental t, d, q before a s drops from the word:
Ex. – peivqw becomes peivsw
4. The following is the future indicative of eijmiv:
e[somai -
ejsovmeqa –
e[sesqe –
e[sh/ e[stai -
e[sontai –
5. Way in which the future tense may be translated:
a. Predictive Future – uJma:V didavxei – “He will teach you.”
b. Imperative Future – kalevseiV to; o[noma aujtou: jIwavnhn.
“You will call his name John.”
c. Deliberative Future – Kuvrie, pro;V tivna ajpeleusovmeqa;
“Lord, to whom will we go?”
GREEK PARTICIPLES
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I. Definition of a Participle
1. A Greek participle is a verbal adjective.
2. A Greek participle has the qualities of both a verb and an adjective:
a. When parsing a participle, like a verb, it will have tense and voice.
1) A participle may occur in the present, aorist, and perfect tenses
(the future tense may also have participles, but is rare in the
NT).
2) A participle may occur in the active, middle, and passive voices.
3) A participle will have nominal endings.
4) A participle does not have mood.
b. When parsing a participle, like an adjective, it will have gender, case,
and number.
1) A participle may function as a subject, object, or modifier.
2) When used as a modifier, the participle will agree in case,
gender, and number with the word it modifies.
c. Example: luvwn – present active participle (verbal quality)
– nominative masculine singular (adjectival quality)
* PAPtc.Nom.ms
3. Participles abound in the New Testament accounting for nearly five percent
of the total word count. Therefore, it is important to learn participles!
II. Formation of Participles
1. Present Participles
a. Present Active Participle of luvw: “loosing”
Singular
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
luvwn
luvontoV
luvonti
luvonta
luvousa
luouvshV
luouvsh/
luvousan
lu:on
luvontoV
luvonti
lu:on
Plural
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Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
luvonteV
luovntwn
luvousin
luvontaV
luvousai
luousw:n
luouvsaiV
luouvsaV
luvonta
luovtwn
luvousin
luvonta
1) The present stem is used in all the voices: lu
2) The coupling vowel is o in the masculine and neuter.
3) The coupling vowel is ou in the feminine.
4) The only exception is in the nominative masculine singular
where the coupling vowel is w.
5) For two examples, note 1 John 2:4.
b. Present Middle and Passive Participle of luvw: “loosing” (as in one’s
own interest); “being loosed”
Singular
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
luovmenoV
luomevnou
luomevnw/
luovmenon
luomevnh
luomevnehV
luomevnh/
luomevnhn
luovmenon
luomevnou
luomevnw/
luovmenon
Plural
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
luovmenoi
luomevnwn
luomevnoiV
luomevnouV
luovmenai
luomevnwn
luomevnaiV
luomevnaV
luovmena
luomevnwn
luomevnoiV
luovmena
1) The present stem is used once again in the middle and passive.
2) The coupling vowel and voice indicator is omen.
c. Present Participle of eijmiv: “being”
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Singular
Nom.
Gen.
o[ntoV
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
w[n
o[ntoV
ou\sa
o[n
o[vnti
o[nta
ou[sh/
ou\san
ou[shV
o[nti
o[n
Plural
Nom.
Gen.
o[ntwn
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
o[nteV
o[ntwn
ou\sai
o[nta
ou\sin
o[ntaV
ou[saiV
ou[saV
oujsw:n
ou\sin
o[nta
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2. Aorist Participles
a. First Aorist Active Participle of luvw: “having loosed”
Singular
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
luvsaV
luvsantoV
luvsanti
luvsanta
luvsasa
lusavshV
lusavsh/
luvsasan
Neut.
lu:san
luvsantoV
luvsanti
lu:san
Plural
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
luvsanteV
lusavntwn
luvsasi(n)
luvsantaV
luvsasai
lusasw:n
lusavsaiV
lusavsaV
luvsanta
lusavntwn
luvsasi(n)
luvsanta
1) The Aorist participle contains no augment.
2) The coupling letters are sa.
3) The masculine and neuter forms are declined like a mute stem
noun of the third declension.
4) The feminine is declined like the first declension.
b. First Aorist Middle Participle of luvw: “having loosed myself”
Singular
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
lusavmenoV
lusamenvou
lusamevnw/
lusavmenon
lusamevnh
lusamevnhV
lusamevnh/
lusamevnhn
lusavmenon
lusamevnou
lusamevnw/
lusavmenon
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Plural
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
lusavmenoi
lusamevnwn
lusamevnoiV
lusamevnouV
lusavmenai
lusamevnwn
lusamevnaiV
lusamevnaV
lusavmena
lusamevnwn
lusamevnoiV
lusavmena
1) The middle form has the first aorist stem – lusa.
2) The middle participle in the aorist also contains the middle
participle suffix – men.
3) It is declined like a second declension in the masculine and
neuter.
4) It is declined like a first declension in the feminine.
5) The first aorist middle participle is like the present middle
participle except for the suffix sa added to the stem.
3. Perfect Participles
a. The Perfect Active Participle of luvw: “having loosed” (the effect
continues)
Singular
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
lelukwvV
lelukovtoV
lelukovti
lelukovta
lelukui:a
lelukuivaV
lelukuiva/
lelukui:an
lelukovV
lelukovtoV
lelukovti
lelukovV
Plural
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
lelukovteV
lelukovtwn
lelukovsi(n)
lelukovtaV
lelukui:ai
lelukuiw:n
lelukuivaiV
lelukuivaV
lelukovta
lelukovtwn
lelukovsi(n)
lelukovta
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b. The Perfect Middle and Passive participle of luvw has the same form:
“having been loosed” (the effect continues)
Singular
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
lelumevnoV
lelumevnou
lelumevnw/
lelumevnon
lelumevnh
lelumevnhV
lelumevnh/
lelumevnhn
lelumevnon
lelumevnou
lelumevnw/
lelumevnon
Plural
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
lelumevnoi
lelumevnwn
lelumevnoiV
lelumevnouV
lelumevnai
lelumevnwn
lelumevnaiV
lelumevnaV
lelumenva
lelumevnwn
lelumevnoiV
lelumevna
1) Notice the reduplicated stem.
2) The middle and passive are identical in form with the coupling
letters men attached to the stem.
3) In the active voice, one adds o to the stem in the masculine and
neuter (except for the masculine where the woccurs.
4) In the active voice, one adds the coupling letters ui to the stem
in the feminine.
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III. Function of Participles
A. A word on translation
1. Participles are expressive words in the Greek.
2. The single participle in Greek has no single counter part in English.
3. It is not unusual to have greater English words in translation than in the
Greek text.
B. Translating Present Participles
1. The present participle indicates continuous action.
2. The present participle indicates action which is contemporaneous with
the action of the main verb (in other words, action which takes
place at the same time as the action of the main verb).
3. Note these examples:
levgwn tau:ta oJ a[nqrwpoV blevpei to;n Kuvrion.
“While saying these things, the man sees the Lord.”
didaskovmenoV uJpo tou: Kuprivou oJ a[nqrwpoV lambavnwi
th;n ajlhvqeian.
“While being taught by the Lord, the man receives the truth.”
Matthew 28:19a
C. Translating Aorist Participles
1. The aorist participle indicates action which is antecedent to the action
of the main verb (this means the action of the participle goes
before the action of the main verb).
2. The kind of action in the aorist participle is punctiliar, that is,
finished action.
3. Note these examples:
oJ a[nqrwpoV eijpw;n tau:ta blevpei to;n Kuvrion.
“The man, having said these things, is seeing the Lord.”
eijpw;n tau:ta ejxh:lqen ejk tou: oi[kou.
“Having said these things, he went out of the house.”
“After he had said these things, he went out of the house.”
“When he had said these things, he went out of the house.”
D. Translating Perfect Participles
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1. The perfect participle indicates action which has come to a state of
being.
2. Remember, the perfect indicates completed action in past time.
3. Note these examples:
e[legon ou\n oiJ jIoudai:oi tw:/ teqerapeumevnw/ (John 5:10a)
“The Jews therefore said to the man who had been healed”
compare Matthew 25:20 & 25:24
THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD
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Introduction:
1. So far in our translation of 1 John we have encountered many verbs in the
indicative mood (Present, Aorist, Perfect, Imperfect).
2. There are other moods in the Greek grammar system:
- Subjunctive
- Imperative
- Optative
3. We have also encountered the Subjunctive mood in our translations, although
we have not discussed this mood in a grammatical study.
I. FORMS OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD
1. The Subjunctive mood occurs rarely in the perfect tense.
2. Besides the rare cases in the perfect tense, the subjunctive mood occurs only
in the present and aorist tenses.
3. Good news!! – The subjunctive mood is the most regular of all the moods:
a. desired tense stem
b. forms of the present subjunctive of eijmi (w\, h\/V, h\/, w\men, h\te,
w\si(n) )
present stem + lengthened connecting vowel + primary endings
4. Present Subjunctive of eijmi:
w\
w\men
h\/V
h\te
h\/
w\si(n)
5. Present active subjunctive of luvw:
luvw
luvwmen
luvh/V
luvhte
luvh/
luvwsi(n)
6. Present middle and passive subjunctive of luvw:
luvwmai
luwvmeqa
luvh/
luvhsqe
luvhtai
7. First aorist active subjunctive of luvw:
luvwntai
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luvsw
luvswmen
luvsh/V
luvsh/
luvshte
luvswsi(n)
8. First aorist middle subjunctive of luvw:
luvswmai
luswvmeqa
luvsh/
luvshsqe
luvshtai
luvswntai
9. First aorist passive subjunctive of luvw:
luqw:
luqw:men
luqh:/V
luqh:/
luqh:te
luqw:si(n)
10. Second aorist active subjunctive of leivpw:
livpw
livpwmen
livph/V
livph/
livphte
livpwsi(n)
11. Second aorist middle subjunctive of leivpw:
livpwmai
lipwvmeqa
livph/
livphsqe
livphtai
livpwntai
12. Second aorist passive subjunctive of leivpw:
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lipw:
lipw:men
liph:/V
liph:te
liph:/
lipw:si(n)
Notice:
- The long connecting vowel w/h the short o/e of the indicative
mood.
- All subjunctive endings have primary endings.
- There is no augment in the aorist (time of action is lost outside
of the indicative mood).
II. THE FUNCTION OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD
1. Mood is defined as the relation of action to reality:
- the action is either really taking place, or
- the action has the potential of taking place
2. The Indicative is the only mood which speaks of real action.
3. The other three moods of Greek speak of potential action (subjunctive,
imperative, and optative).
4. Example of function of the various moods:
a. Indicative Mood – The child runs.
b. Subjunctive Mood – If the child should run.
- This expresses action not really taking place, but is objectively
possible.
- The child has the ability to run.
- Of the three potential moods, this one is nearest to reality.
c. Optative Mood – Oh, that the child would run!
- This expresses action not really taking place, but is subjectively
possibly.
- This is one step further removed from reality than the subjunctive
d. Imperative Mood – Run, child.
- This expresses action which is not really taking place, but is
volitionally possible.
- It is the furthest removed from real action of the indicative mood.
5. Translating present and aorist subjunctives:
a. Present – eja;n luvw – “if I should continue loosing”
b. Aorist – eja;n luvsw – “if I should loose in act”
6. Various expressions of the subjunctive:
a. Hortatory Subjunctive – used in first person plural
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e[lqwmen eijV to;n oi\kon – “Let us go into the house.”
b. Prohibitive Subjunctive – used in the second person aorist; this forbids
the beginning of an act
eijV peirasmo;n mh; eijsenevgkh/V hJma:V.
“Lead us not into temptation.”
“Don’t ever lead us into temptation.”
c. Deliberative Subjunctive – used to express a question whether rhetorical
or real
tiv ei[pw uJmi:n – “What shall I say to you?”
d. Emphatic Negation Subjunctive – employs the double negative
ouj mh; ejkquvgwsin – “They shall by no means escape.”
e. Final Subjunctive – use of subordinate clause to express purpose
e[rcomai i{na ei[pw aujtw:/. – “I come in order that I may speak
to him.”
f. Probable Future Condition Subjunctive – used with eja;n
1 John 1:6 – jEa;n ei[pwmen – “If we say”
This expresses action that is not really taking place but which
probably will take place in the future.
THE IMPERATIVE MOOD
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Introduction:
1. The imperative mood appears in the present and aorist tenses.
2. There is no first person in the imperative mood.
3. The third person in the imperative mood must be translated with a permissive
idea in mind – “let him . . .”
4. Like the subjunctive mood, the imperative mood contains no augment in the
aorist forms.
5. Imperative is the mood where the action is not taking place, but is volitionally
possible.
Forms of the Imperative Mood:
1. Present Active Imperative of luvw:
2nd person
3rd person
lu:e
luevtw
luvete
luevwsan
2. Present Middle and Passive Imperative of luvw:
2nd person
3rd person
luvon
luevsqw
luvesqe
luevsqwsan
3. First Aorist Active Imperative of luvw:
2nd person
3rd person
lu:son
lusavtw
luvsate
lusavtwsan
4. First Aorist Middle Imperative of luvw:
2nd person
3rd person
lu:sai
lusavsqw
luvsasqe
lusavsqwsan
5. First Aorist Passive Imperative of luvw:
2nd person
3rd person
luvqhti
luqhvtw
luvqhte
luqhvtwsan
6. Second Aorist Active Imperative of leivpw:
2nd person
3rd person
livpe
lipevtw
livpete
lipevtwsan
7. Second Aorist Middle Imperative of leivpw:
2nd person
lipou:
livpesqe
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3rd person
lipevsqw
lipevsqwsan
8. Second Aorist Passive Imperative of ajpostevllw:
2nd person
3rd person
ajpostavlhqi
ajpostalhvtw
ajpostavlhte
ajpostalhvtwsan
9. Present Imperative of eijmi:
2nd person
3rd person
i[sqi
e[stw
e[ste
e[stwsan
Function of the Imperative
1. The imperative is the mood which expresses action which is to be realized by
the exercise of the will of one person upon that of another.
2. Like the subjunctive, the time of action is lost in the imperative mood.
3. The present imperative is action which is in progress:
lu:e aujtovn – “continue loosing him”
4. The aorist imperative is action which is not yet started:
lu:son aujtovn – “loose him”
5. The various expressions of the imperative mood:
a. Cohortative – a positive command
b. Prohibitive – a negative command (only in the present imperative)
mh; lu:e aujtovn – “stop loosing him”
mh; levgete tau:ta – “stop saying these things”
c. Entreaty – expression of a request as opposed to a command
pavter a{gie, thvrhson aujtou;V ejn tw:/ ojnovmativ sou.
“Holy Father, keep them in thy name.”
d. Permissive – third person imperative
luevtw to;n a[nqrwpon – “Let him continue loosing the man.”
lusavtw to;n a[nqrwpon – “Let him loose (start loosing) the man.”
THE OPTATIVE MOOD
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I. Formation of the Optative Mood
1. There are only 67 instances of the optative mood in the Greek New Testament.
2. This is our third mood of potential.
3. The letter combinations of oi, ai, and ei are frequent in the optative mood.
4. Like the other moods of potential the augment is not present in the aorist.
5. Since the optative mood does not occur with any consistency or much
frequency, instead of learning lists of paradigms, it will be sufficient to
see examples from the Greek New Testament (See Hewett’s Grammar,
193-94).
II. Function of the Optative Mood
1. This is the mood which is the furthest removed from reality.
a. The indicative mood declares something to be.
b. The subjunctive mood expresses feasible action.
c. The imperative mood expresses a command and is contingent upon
the volition of the one receiving the command.
2. Hewett stated, “ . . . the optative expresses a polite request without any
connotation of anticipated realization; it has an air of perplexity or
possibility; it always has a remoteness with regard to whether or not the
action might come into being” (194).
3. The optative can be translated into English using various words that convey the
idea of remoteness:
- may
- can
- might
- should
- would
- could
4. There is the optative of wishing: Rom. 15:13; 1 Thess. 5:23; Rom. 6:2, 15; 7:7
This expression is typically viewed in the Aorist tense only
5. There is the potential optative:
a. perplexity – Luke 3:15
b. possibility – Luke 6:11
6. There is the fourth class condition: 1 Peter 3:14
THE GREEK INFINITIVE
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I. Defining the Infinitive
1. The Greek Infinitive can simply be described as a verbal noun.
2. As a verb, it will have tense and voice (active, middle, and passive).
3. The infinitive is not inflected as a noun (originally, but has been lost).
a. They will not be declined like a noun.
b. It may be used with the definite article.
4. The infinitive can occur in four of the tenses:
- present
- the action is ongoing or linear
- Matthew 14:4
Oujk e[xestivn soi e[cein aujthvn
“For you to have (in the process of having) her is not
lawful”
- aorist
- expresses action that is singular or a point in time
- Matthew 14:5
kai; qevlwn aujto;n ajpoktei:nai
“and wishing to kill (to perform the act of killing) him
- perfect
- expresses the continuation of results from an action
- Mark 5:4
dia; to; aujto;n pollavkiV pevdaiV kai; ajluvsesin
dedevsqai kai; diespavsqai uJp j aujtou: ta;V ajluvseiV
kai; ta;V pevdaV suntetri:fqai, kai; oujdei;V i[scuen
aujto;n damavsai`
“though often he had been bound with fetters and chains
and the chains and fetters had been torn asunder and had
been broken in pieces by him, and no one was able
to subdue him.”
- future (only six occurrences in the Greek New Testament – Acts 11:28;
23:30; 24:15; 27:10; John 21:25; Hebrews 3:18)
II. Expressing the Infinitive
As a Verb
1. The infinitive can be used to express the purpose of the main verb:
mh; nomivshte o{ti h\lqon katalu:sai (AAInf.) to;n novmon.
“Do not conclude that I have come to destroy the law” (Matt. 5:17).
2. The infinitive can be used to express the result of the main verb:
ejgevneto wJsei; nekrovV, w{ste tou;V pollou;V levgein (PAInf.) o{ti
ajpevqanen.
“He became as a dead man, so that many said that he had died” (Mk. 9:26)
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3. The infinitive can be used to express temporal ideas:
a. Before
Kuvrie, katavbhqi pri;n ajpoqanei:n (AAInf.) to; paidivon mou.
“Lord, come down before my child dies” (John 4:49).
b. While
ejqauvmazon ejn tw:/ cronivzein (PAInf.) ejn tw:/ naw:/ aujtovn.
“They were wondering while he was tarrying in the temple”
(Luke 1:21).
c. After
parevsthsen eJauto;n zw:nta meta; to; paqei:n (AAInf.) aujtovn.
“He showed himself alive after his suffering” (Acts. 1:3).
4. The infinitive can be used to express cause.
oujk e[cete dia; to; mh; aijtei:sqai (AAInf.) uJma:V
“You have not because you ask not” (James 4:2)
As A Noun
1. The infinitive can be used as the subject of a finite verb.
oujc uJmw:n ejstin gnw:nai (PMInf.) crovnouV h[ kairouvV.
“To know times and seasons is not yours” (Acts 1:7).
2. The infinitive can be used as the direct object of a verb.
h[rxato oJ jIhsou:V poiei:n (PAInf.) te kai; didavskein (PAInf.).
“Jesus began both to do and to teach” (Acts 1:1).
3. The infinitive can be used as the secondary object of a verb.
e[cw soiv ti eijpei:n (PAInf.).
“I have something to say to you.”
4. The infinitive can be used as an appositional substantive.
qrhskeiva kaqara; . . . au{th ejstivn, ejpiskevptesqai (PMInf.)
ojrfanou;V . . .
“Pure religion . . . is this, to visit orphans . . .” (James 1:27)
5. The infinitive can be used as a modifier.
h\lqen oJ kairo;V tw:n nekrw:n kriqh:nai (APInf.).
“The time of the dead to be judged has come” (Revelation 11:18)