Ancient Greek for Everyone:
A New Digital Resource for
Beginning Greek
as taught at
Louisiana State University
Fall 2013
Richard Warga
Unit 19: The Perfect System
Ancient Greek for Everyone
This class (someday, Month ##, 2013)
• AGE Unit 19: The Perfect System
• You have learned four tenses of Greek verbs: the
present, future, imperfect and aorist.
• This Unit presents the final tenses, those of the
Perfect System.
Elementary Greek
The 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.
Elementary Greek
• From 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.
Elementary Greek
The 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.
Elementary Greek
The Perfect System
• Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers:
– ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of
the verb’s stem. This addition is called the “reduplication.”
– In the ACTIVE voice, verbs add the suffix –κα to the verb
stem before any other ending.
• When adding –κα to the verb stem is too difficult to pronounce,
the –κ merges or drops out.
Elementary Greek
The Perfect System
• Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers:
– ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of
the verb’s stem. This addition is called the “reduplication.”
– λυ “loosen”
• + reduplication λε-  λελυ- (perfect stem)
– δεικ “show”
• + reduplication δε-  δεδεικ- (perfect stem)
– γραφ “write”
• + reduplication γε-  γεγραφ- (perfect stem)
Elementary Greek
The Perfect System
• Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers:
– ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of
the verb’s stem. This addition is called the “reduplication.”
– Greek verb stems starting with a vowel effectively add an augment:
– ἀρχ “lead, rule, begin”
• + reduplication ἐ-  ἠρχ- (perfect stem)
– ἐθελη “want”
• + reduplication ἐ-  ἠθελη- (perfect stem)
Elementary Greek
The Perfect System
• Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers:
– ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of
the verb’s stem. This addition is called the “reduplication.”
– Greek verbs will not duplicate an aspiration or a sigma:
– θη “put, make”
• + reduplication θε-  τεθη- (perfect stem)
– στη “stand”
• + reduplication σε-  ἑστη- (perfect stem)
Elementary Greek
The Perfect System
• Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers:
– ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of
the verb’s stem. This addition is called the “reduplication.”
– In the active voice, the perfect stem adds the marker –κα.
– θη  τεθη- (perfect stem)
• + –κα  τεθηκα- (perfect active stem)
– στη  ἑστη- (perfect stem)
• + –κα  ἑστηκα- (perfect active stem)
Elementary Greek
The Perfect System
• Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers:
– ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of
the verb’s stem. This addition is called the “reduplication.”
– In the active voice, the perfect stem add the marker –κα.
When adding –κα to the verb stem is too difficult to pronounce,
the –κ merges or drops out.
– λυ  λελυ- (perfect stem)
• + –κα  λελυκα- (perfect active stem)
– δεικ  δεδεικ- (perfect stem)
• + –κα  δεδειχα- (perfect active stem)
Elementary Greek
The Perfect System
• Greek tenses of the perfect system use distinctive markers:
– ALL verbs in the perfect system double the initial sound of
the verb’s stem. This addition is called the “reduplication.”
– In the active voice, the perfect stem add the marker –κα.
When adding –κα to the verb stem is too difficult to pronounce,
the –κ merges or drops out.
– γραφ  γεγραφ- (perfect stem)
• + –κα  γεγραφα- (perfect active stem)
– ἀρχ  ἠρχ- (perfect stem)
• + –κα  ἠρχα- (perfect active stem)
Elementary Greek
• Although 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.
Elementary Greek
Building a Greek verb
• The Perfect Tense is a primary tense and so uses a variation
of primary endings:
• - = I (1st sg)
-μεν = we (1st pl)
• -ς = you (2nd sg)
-τε = y’all (2nd pl)
• -ε = (s)he, it (3rd sg)
-σι = they (3rd pl)
These endings most closely resemble the
-μι conjugation active part of the Primary Personal Endings
on the Master List of Greek Endings.
Elementary Greek
• λέλυκα
• λέλυκας
• λέλυκε
• λελύκαμεν
• λελύκατε
• λελύκασι
Building a Greek Verb
The Perfect Indicative Active of λύω (GPH p. 90)
Elementary Greek
• δέδειχα
• δέδειχας
• δέδειχε
• δεδείχαμεν
• δεδείχατε
• δεδείχασι
Building a Greek Verb
The Perfect Indicative Active of δείκνυμι
Elementary Greek
Building a Greek verb
• In the middle voice, the Perfect Tense uses primary endings:
• -μαι = I (1st sg)
-μεθα = we (1st pl)
• -σαι = you (2nd sg)
-σθε = y’all (2nd pl)
• -ται = (s)he, it (3rd sg)
-νται = they (3rd pl)
These endings are the standard ones from
the Primary Personal Endings
on the Master List of Greek Endings.
Elementary Greek
• λέλυμαι
• λέλυσαι
• λέλυται
• λελύμεθα
• λέλυσθε
• λέλυνται
Building a Greek Verb
The Perfect Indicative Middle of λύω (GPH p. 90)
Elementary Greek
• Although 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.
Ancient Greek for Everyone
CONSONANTS
Labial
Dental
πp
τt
βb
δd
φ ph
θ th
ψ ps
σs
μm
νn
λl
Palatal
κ k = unvoiced
γ g = voiced
χ kh = aspirated
ξ ks = + σ
γκ, γγ, γχ, γξ ng nasals
ρ r = liquids
Elementary Greek
• δέδειγμαι
• δέδειγξαι
• δέδειγκται
• δεδείγμεθα
• δέδειγχθε
• See section on periphrastic forms
with participles.
Notice that a final consonant of a verb stem (here -κ) 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 *δέ-δεικ-νται).
Building a Greek Verb
The Perfect Indicative Middle of δείκνυμι
Elementary Greek
Building a Greek verb
• In the infinitive mood, the Perfect Tense the same endings as
-μι verbs:
• -ναι = active
-σθαι = middle
•
λελυκέσθαι
δεδειχέσθαι
•
λελυκέναι
δεδειχέναι
These endings are the same endings as for -μι verbs
on the Master List of Greek Endings.
Elementary Greek
From Unit 17: 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
• One of the most common and useful participles is the
present active participle of εἰμί “be”
• The masculine forms will be familiar from the noun ἄρχων,
ἄρχοντος ὁ “ruler” in Unit 3. In fact, this word is actually a
participle that was used so much it was also used as a noun.
Elementary Greek
The perfect active participle
The pattern for the present active participle of -ω verbs is
present stem + –ων –ουσα –ον
The pattern for the perfect active participle is
present stem + –ώς –υῖα –ός
The pattern of the perfect active participle is basically the
same as for the present, except that the -ν- has dropped out.
Elementary Greek
From Unit 17: The present active participle
present participle active of εἰμί “be”
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
Elementary Greek
The perfect active participle
perfect participle active of λύω
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
Elementary Greek
From Unit 17: The present active participle
present participle active of εἰμί “be”
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
Elementary Greek
The perfect active participle
perfect participle active of λύω
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-
Elementary Greek
From Unit 17: The present active participle
present participle active of εἰμί “be”
neuter forms
singular
Nom. ὄν
Gen. ὄντος
Dat. ὄντι
Acc. = nom.
plural
Nom. ὄντα
Gen. ὄντων
Dat. οὖσι
Acc. = nom.
nom. sg.: οντ  ον
dat. pl.: οντσι  ονσι  ουσι
Elementary Greek
The perfect active participle
perfect participle active of λύω
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
Elementary Greek
• οἶδα
• οἶσθα imperative: ἴσθι
• οἶδε
• ἴσμεν
• ἴστε
• ἴσασι
infinitive: εἰδέναι
participle: εἰδώς –υῖα –ός
This verb is an irregularly formed perfect tense from the stem ἰδ-, which
means “see” (the root of which also serves as the aorist for ὁράω “see”).
In the perfect οἶδα literally means “have seen” but it regularly means
“know” (in the sense that what you have seen you know and understand).
Building a Greek Verb
The Perfect Active of οἶδα (GPH p. 166)
Elementary Greek
From Unit 17: Middle participles
• All participles in the middle voice have the marker -μεν-.
• All participles in the middle voice use –ος –η –ον endings.
• In other words, wherever the personal ending (or infinitive
ending) would be, substitute:
–μενος –μένη –μενον
Elementary Greek
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 -μεν- marker.
• δεικνύμενος -η -ον (present)
• λελυμένος λελυμένη λελυμένον (perfect)
• δεδειγμένος δεδειγμένη δεδειγμένον (perfect)
• Note that the accent remains fixed on the -μεν- marker.
Elementary Greek
• In 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
περίφρασις “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.
Elementary Greek
The Perfect System
• Greek often expresses the passive of the perfect system using
periphrastic constructions:
ὁ νόμος γέγραπται.
or
ὁ νόμος γεγραμμένος ἐστιν.
“The law has been written down.”
“The law is written down.”
οἱ νόμοι γεγραμμένοι εἰσιν.
“The laws have been written down.”
“The laws are written down.”
Elementary Greek
The 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.
Elementary Greek
The 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.
Elementary Greek
Building a Greek verb
• The Pluperfect Tense is a secondary tense and so uses a
variation of secondary endings:
• -η = I (1st sg)
-εμεν = we (1st pl)
• -ης = you (2nd sg)
-ετε = y’all (2nd pl)
• -ει = (s)he, it (3rd sg)
-εσαν = they (3rd pl)
These endings most closely resemble the
-μι conjugation active part of the Secondary Personal Endings
on the Master List of Greek Endings.
Elementary Greek
• ἐλελύκη
• ἐλελύκης
• ἐλελύκει
• ἐλελύκεμεν
• ἐλελύκετε
• ἐλελύκεσαν
Building a Greek Verb
The Pluperfect Indicative Active of λύω (GPH p. 91)
Elementary Greek
• 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).
Building a Greek Verb
The Pluperfect Active of οἶδα (GPH p. 166)
Elementary Greek
Building a Greek verb
• In the middle voice, the Pluperfect Tense uses secondary
endings:
• -μην = I (1st sg)
-μεθα = we (1st pl)
• -σο = you (2nd sg)
-σθε = y’all (2nd pl)
• -το = (s)he, it (3rd sg)
-ντο = they (3rd pl)
These endings are the standard ones from
the Secondary Personal Endings
on the Master List of Greek Endings.
Elementary Greek
• ἐλελύμην
• ἐλέλυσο
• ἐλέλυτο
• ἐλελύμεθα
• ἐλέλυσθε
• ἐλέλυντο
Building a Greek Verb
The Perfect Indicative Middle of λύω (GPH p. 90)
Elementary Greek
The Perfect System
• Greek often expresses the passive of the perfect system using
periphrastic constructions:
ὁ νόμος ἐγέγραπτο.
or
ὁ νόμος γεγραμμένος ἦν.
“The law had been written down.”
“The law was written down.”
οἱ νόμοι γεγραμμένοι ἦσαν.
“The laws had been written down.”
“The laws were written down.”
Elementary Greek
• A 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, participle
Voice: active, middle
Elementary Greek
Classical Vocabulary
• δέδοικα (or shortened to δέδια) fear
• ἔοικα resemble, seem
• οἶδα know
These verbs exist only in the Perfect System.
Except for the forms of οἶδα given earlier, they are regular,
just lacking tenses outside the Perfect System.
Elementary Greek
New Testament Vocabulary (defective)
• οἶδα know
In later Greek like the Koine of the NT,
the plural forms of the perfect of this verb are regularized to
οἴδαμεν, οἴδατε, οἴδασι
(in contrast to the forms given earlier for Classical Greek).
Elementary Greek
• Next 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.