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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

Biblical Greek Year 1 Lesson 3

The Present Indicative Active

Vocabulary Training

Class Slides

Class Notes Download The Present Indicative Active

Present Indicative Active Endings:

 

Singular:

1st Person: -ω

2nd Person: -εις

3rd Person: -ει

Plural:

1st Person: -ομεν

2nd Person: -ετε

3rd Person: -ουσι(ν)

Infinitive λέγειν, to be saying, to say

The Present Indicative Active form in Greek is used to denote an action that is occurring in the present time from the writer’s perspective. It can indicate a continuous, habitual, or general truth.

The indicative is the only mode in which the tenses show absolute time. The main idea of tense is always the kind of action.; therefore, even in the indicative time is secondary. Duration or linear action in a continuous or progressive manner is the action expressed by the tense.

Present Tense: Indicates the time of the action as present.

It can denote a continuous action (e.g., “I am studying”).

It can represent a habitual action (e.g., “I study every day”).

It can also indicate a general truth (e.g., “The earth revolves around the sun”).

Indicative Mood: This mood is used for making factual statements or asking questions that are seen as actual.

Active Voice: In the active voice, the subject of the verb is the one performing the action (e.g., “He writes a letter” – the subject “he” is doing the action of writing).

Parsing a Present Indicative Active Verb

Parsing involves identifying five components of a verb: tense, mood, voice, person, and number.

  1. Tense: Present.
  2. Mood: Indicative.
  3. Voice: Active.
  4. Person: Indicates who is performing the action:
    1. 1st person: “I” or “we”
    2. 2nd person: “you” (singular or plural)
    3. 3rd person: “he/she/it” or “they”
  5. Number: Singular or Plural.

 

Parsing Example: λέγω (I say)

λέγω (I say) – ω ending for 1st person singular.

λέγεις (You say) – εις ending for […]

Biblical Greek Year 1 Lesson 32024-10-02T14:37:51-07:00

Biblical Greek Year 1 Lesson 2

Introduction to Verbs

Class Notes

Introduction to Verbs

A verb is a word that represents an action, occurrence, or state of being. Verbs are one of the fundamental building blocks of grammar in most languages. They are crucial for constructing sentences and conveying actions or states.

There are several types of verbs used to express action or a state of being:

  1. Action Verbs: These describe specific actions performed by the subject. Examples: run, jump, write, speak.
  2. Linking Verbs: These verbs connect the subject of a sentence to additional information about the subject. They do not describe an action. Common linking verbs include forms of “to be” (is, am, are, was, were), seem, become, appear.
  3. Helping Verbs (Auxiliary Verbs): These verbs are used with main verbs to form different tenses, moods, or voices. Examples: have, do, will, shall, can, may, must.
  4. Transitive Verbs: These verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning. Example: “She reads a book.”
  5. Intransitive Verbs: These verbs do not require a direct object. Example: “He sleeps.”

The Greek verb system is complex and encompasses various components, including tense, voice, mood, person, and number.

Tense (Χρόνος)

In the majority of the tenses the kind of action is the primary focus. Only in the Indicated mode is time absolute.

  • Present (Ενεστώτας): Indicates a continuous or repeated action in the present time (e.g., “I am loosing”). 1 John 3:9, Does not “habitually” sin.
  • Imperfect (Παρατατικός): Indicates a continuous or repeated action in the past (e.g., “I was loosing”). John 1:1, the Word was before any beginning.
  • Future (Μέλλοντας): Indicates an action that will occur in the future (e.g., “I will loose”). Matthew 16:18, I will build My Church.
  • Aorist (Αόριστος): Indicates action […]
Biblical Greek Year 1 Lesson 22024-10-02T14:36:13-07:00

Clauses

Clauses

Indicative Adjectival Clauses

A relative clause is used to directly limit or define a noun, performing a pure adjectival function.

Causal Clauses

The relative clause may denote grounds for the assertion in the main clause.

Concessive Clauses

A relative clause may imply the idea of concession.

Simple Condition

The relative clause may supply the protasis of a simple condition.

Purpose Clauses

The relative clause may express purpose.

Subjunctive

More Probable Condition
The protasis of a more probable future condition may be expressed by the use of the relative pronoun with ἄν.

Voluntative Result
A relative clause may express a result that the context shows was intended or contemplated.

Causal Clauses

Coordinate Causal Clause
The inferential particle γάρ is the regular connective for two coordinate clauses that bear to each other some relation of cause and effect, or reason and conclusion.

Subordinate Causal Clauses
By a Subordinating Conjunction
The Particles used: ὃτι, διότι, καθότι, ἐπεί, ἐπειδή, ὃθεν
The Phrases used: ἐφ᾽ ὦ, έφ᾽ ὃσον, ἀνθ᾽ ὦν, οὖ χάριν
By διἀ with the Articular Infinitive
By the Participle
By the relative pronoun

Comparative Clauses

The Particles Used

Those used most are ὡς and καθώς
Compounds of κατά
Compounds of ὡς
The Correlative pronoun ὅσος
The Comparative Particle ἤ
The use of the phrase ὄν τρόπον

Local Clauses The Particles Used

By ὄπου
By ου
By ὂθεν

Temporal Clauses

With the Indicative

Introduced by ὂτε, ἐπειδή, ὁπότε, ὦς, meaning When.
Introduced by ὂταν, meaning Whenever.
Introduced by ἔως, ἔως οὖ, ἔως ὅτου, ἄχρι οὖ, ἐφ᾽ ὄσον, meaning While.
Introduced by ἔως, ἄχρι, ἄχρι οὖ, meaning Until.
Introduced by ἔως, ἀφ᾽ οὖ, […]

Clauses2023-12-11T12:14:40-08:00
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