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Infinitive

The Use of the Infinitive

A verbal noun used in place of the verb to express more forcefully the action. The use of a definite article with the infinitive has no major effect upon its variations in use; rather, it restores the noun aspect of the word over its verbal characteristics. It also carries some grammatical significance in the natural use of the article with the cases and prepositions. As a result of its dual nature, the infinitive is one of the most widely used parts of speech in the Koine because it can perform a large number and variations of functions.

Verbal Use of the Infinitive

This aspect of the infinitive looks at its use within context by its verbal characteristics – its function in the sentence as a finite verb. Like a verb it uses voice and tense, takes an object, and is qualified by an adverb.

Purpose

The infinitive is used to express action that is denoted by a finite verb.

The purpose is expressed by:

The simple infinitive

The infinitive with τοῦ, εἰς, πρός, ὣστε, ὡς

Result

The infinitive is clearly used to signify results.

The result may be expressed by:

The simple infinitive

The infinitive with τοῦ, εἰς, ὣστε

Time

The infinitive is used as the equivalent of a temporal clause.

The infinitive with πρίν or πρίν ἥ is used to expresses antecedent time

The infinitive with ἐν τῶ is used to express contemporaneous time.

The infinitive with μετά τό is used to express subsequent time.

Cause

The accusative infinitive with διά is a very natural construction for the expression of cause.

Command

The imperatival use of the infinitive

Noun Use of the Infinitive

It has a relation to cases, can be accompanied by a preposition, used […]

Infinitive2023-12-11T12:17:07-08:00

Imperative

The Imperative Mood

The mood of command or entreaty – the mood of volition.

The Imperative of Command or Strong Suggestion

The imperative, which is the mood of ascertaining of one’s will over another, is the normal mood for a command or a strong suggestion.

When the Present Imperative is used as a command or strong suggestion, it denotes an appeal to continue, or keep on doing something that is already in progress. It may express an urgency to do it now.

The Prohibitive Imperative

This use differs from the “Imperative of Command” only in the presence of the negative μή. This use employs the Present Imperative to prohibit the continuation of an action already in progress. You are to “stop doing” something.

The Imperative of Entreaty

This use of the Imperative denotes a request. It does have the force of urgency.

The Imperative of Permission

The third person Imperative is used to denote the desire for permission. In translation it may require an auxiliary verb “let”. The command signified by the Imperative may be in compliance with an expressed desire or a manifest inclination on the part of the one who is the object of the command, thus involving consent as well as command.

The Imperative of Concession or Condition

While similar to the “Imperative of Permission”, this use moves a step further to concession. This construction may have two imperatives joined together by καί when the first suggests a concessive idea. It suggests an inclination on the part of the persons addressed to do the thing mentioned.

The Imperative of Asyndeton

Asyndeton is “the practice of leaving out the conjunction between coordinating sentence elements.” It is a common idiom in Greek to have an Imperative with another Imperative without a conjunction.

Imperative = Strong […]

Imperative2023-12-11T12:17:17-08:00

Optative Mood

The Optative Mood

The mood of strong contingency or possibility. It expresses no definite anticipation of realization, rather, it only presents the action as conceivable.

The Volitive Optative (Wishes)

This use denotes a wish. It is the ordinary verbal form for expressing wishes and is the most common use of the optative.

The Potential Optative (Futuristic)

This use signifies what would happen on the fulfillment of some supposed condition. It is used in a clause which implies condition. The particle ἄν usually occurs with this use. It simply states that a thing could, or might be possible.

The Deliberative Optative

The Optative is used a few times in the New Testament to express indirect questions. This use involves ἔιν (third person singular of the Present of εἰμίv). Normally an indirect question is expressed by the Indicative; however, the Optative gives the question a more tentative and cautious tone.

The Conditional Optative

This use, using ἄν or εί, is related to the potential Optative. The condition of the Optative is part of the fourth-class conditional sentence. Either the είv in the protasis with the Optative or the ἄν in the apodosis with the Optative will be found, but not both at the same time.

The Optative in Subordinate Clauses in Indirect Speech

 

The Optative is used in clauses introduced by πρίν ἥ.

Optative Mood = Not Likely (Wishful)

Present

Future

1st Aorist

2nd Aorist

1st Perfect

2nd Perfect

Future Perfect

© 2017 Luther Walker | All Rights Reserved | This book or any potion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations […]

Optative Mood2023-12-11T12:17:26-08:00
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