Verb
The Greek Verb
The verb is the part of a sentence that expresses the action or state of being. Some verbs require an object to complete the sentence where others do not due to their inherent meaning. Transitive or intransitive is a characteristic of the verb, not expressed or modified by the voice. Transitive verbs take a direct object. Intransitive verbs do not need a direct object to complete their meaning.
Five Identifying Features of the Greek Verb
The Greek verb has five identifying features: Mode (Mood), Tense, Voice, Person, Number.
Mode (Mood)
Represents the way in which the action is perceived. Two viewpoints are expressed: that which is actual and that which is possible.
Tense
Identifies type and time of action. The kind of action is the principle idea involved with the Greek tense, whereas the time of action is secondary. Kinds of actions are continuous, occurring, and completed.
Voice
Indicates how the subject relates to the action or state of the verb.
Active
The subject is producing the action or state expressed by the verb.
Middle
The subject participates in or directly benefits from the result of the action or state expressed in the verb.
Passive
The subject receives the action or state of the verb.
Person and Number
Person and number determine the relation of the subject to the action of the verb. The verb will always agree with its subject in person and number.
Deponent or Defective Verbs
Deponent means “to lay aside” and defective is used to imply that a word has no active voice. However, both terms are inadequate to describe the use of a middle or passive in place of the active voice. The active form did exist; however, through use dropped off because the middle or passive voice by the nature of the word and its use became predominate. However, to say it has “laid aside” its active voice is incorrect and contrary to the history of […]