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 […]

VerbLuther Walker2023-12-11T12:19:31-08:00

Greek Grammar Table of Contents

Greek Grammar Table of ContentsLuther Walker2023-12-11T12:25:04-08:00

Prepositions

Prepositions

A word placed typically before a noun or pronoun used in place of a noun and indicates the relationships of that noun or pronoun to a verb, an adjective, or another noun or pronoun.

Prepositions Used with One Case

Preposition	Case	Translation
ἀνἀ	Accusative	up, again
ἀπὀ	Ablative	from, away from
έκ	Ablative	from, out from (source), out from within
είς	Accusative	into, unto, with reference to, because of, against (hostility)
πρό	Ablative	before

Prepositions Used with Two Case

Preposition	Case	Translation	Case	Translation
άντί	Ablative	instead of- substitution	Genitive	Against (opposed to)
έν	Locative	in, with in, among (in the plural)	Instrumental	by (means of), with
μετά	Genitive	with (loosely associated with, accompanied by)	Accusative	after
περί	Genitive	about, generally concerning	Accusative	around (position); about (specifically concerning)
σὐν	Dative	together with (intimately)	Locative	with (close association)
ὑπέρ	Genitive	On behalf of, for the sake of, in place of (substitution)	Accusative	over, above, beyond
ὑπο	Ablative	by (direct agency)	Accusative	under

Prepositions Used with Three Case

Preposition	Case	Translation	Case	Translation	Case	Translation
ἐπί	Genitive	upon, on (Emphatic, contact), at, by	Locative	upon, on, at, over (position)	Accusative	upon, on the basis of, on the occasion of, against (oppression). Up to (without going over)
διά	Ablative	possibly – through (source)	Genitive	through (intermediate agency)	Accusative	on account of, because of
κατά	Ablative	down from	Genitive	down upon, against (contrary to)	Accusative	according to, with reference to, as measured by
παρά	Ablative	from (The side of)	Locative	by the side of	Accusative	beside, beyond, against, (contrary to)
πρός

PrepositionsLuther Walker2023-12-11T12:15:24-08:00

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 […]

InfinitiveLuther Walker2023-12-11T12:17:07-08:00

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 […]

ParticiplesLuther Walker2023-12-11T12:22:40-08:00