Present Tense

The Present Tense Verb

The Kind of Action of the Present Tense:

The present tense primarily expresses linear action; however, depending on context can focus on a point in time.  With the Greek verb the time is secondary to the type of action; therefore, the present tense is not restricted to only expressing action going on in the present time. The time element is expressed by the mode more than the tense; however, the progressive force of the present tense needs to be considered regardless of what mode it is used with, especially the Subjunctive and Optative modes.

The Aoristic  Present

Denotes point-in-time action in the present time; taking place at the moment of speaking or writing without reference to its progress.

And Peter said to him, “Aenea, Jesus the Christ heals you, stand up furnish for yourself and he immediately rose. Acts 9:34

The Gnomic Present

Represents that which is assumed to be true at all times; simply affirming that something does happen under given circumstances.

The Historical Present

Portrays a past action as though it were going on at the moment it was written. It expresses vividness in dramatic narration where the writer can still picture the events in his mind as though they were still happening and he is still involved in them.

The next day John seeing Jesus coming towards him and said, “Look with discernment, the Lamb of God, the One taking away the sin of the world. John 1:29

The Futuristic Present

Pictures a future event, which is so certain to the writer that he writes of it as though it was already taking place.

The Descriptive Present

Represents an […]

Present Tense2023-12-11T12:19:13-08:00

Participles

The Classification of the Participle

The Ascriptive Use

The participle ascribes some fact, quality, or characteristic to the noun, or designates the noun as belonging to a general class

The participle like the adjective may modify the noun in the attributive relation. This construction may occur without an article. John 1:9

The participle may be used like an adjective in the predicate, after a verb of being.

When the participle is not accompanied by a noun it may function as a noun. This construction may be found with or without the article. It may be used as subject, object, or modifier

The Restrictive Use

The participle may denote an affirmation that distinguishes the noun which it qualifies as in some way specially defined, or marked out in its particular identity.

The Ascriptive Participle only assigns a quality or characteristic, the Restrictive Participle denotes distinctiveness.

The Telic Participle

Purpose may be denoted by the participle.

The Temporal Participle

The Participle is used in the sense of a temporal clause, where it may be translated in English by when, after, or while.

The Causal Participle

The Participle may denote that which is the grounds for action in the main verb. Here it functions in the same general relation as a causal clause introduced by because or since.

The Conditional Participle

The participle may function as the protasis of a conditional sentence.

The Concessive Participle

The participle may denote a sense of concession, being used either with or without the concessive particle.

The Instrumental Participle

The participle may indicate the means by which the action of the main verb is accomplished.

The Modal Participle

The participle may signify the manner in which the action of the main verb is accomplished. This use of the participle may be accompanied by ὡς.

The Complementary Participle

The participle may be used to […]

Participles2023-12-11T12:22:40-08:00

Nouns, Articles, and Cases

Nouns, Articles, and Case Endings

Case is determined by function, not form

In the Greek language, it is important to understand that the relationship of the noun to the other words in the sentence always governs the case. Hence, although Genitive and Ablative share the same endings, they are clearly distinguished within the context and function of the sentence. There are eight cases in the Greek language: Nominative, Genitive, Ablative, Dative, Locative, Instrumental, Accusative, and Vocative.

Vocative Case

The case of direct address.

The Nominative Case

The case of specific designation, the naming case.

The Genitive Case

The case of definition or description.

The Dative Case

The case of personal interest. It expresses the indirect object.

The Locative Case

The case of position or location.

The Instrumental Case

The case of means or association.

The Accusative Case

The case of limitation or extension.

© 2017 Luther Walker | All Rights Reserved | ISBN-10: 0-9993211-0-2, ISBN-13: 978-0-9993211-0-2 | 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 in a book review or scholarly journal.

Nouns, Articles, and Cases2023-12-11T12:23:52-08:00
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