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Pluperfect Tense

The Pluperfect Tense

The Kind of Action of the Pluperfect Tense:

Linear and Punctiliar. The past tense of completed action with abiding results.

In this use, verbs that denote a present state in the perfect denote a past state in the pluperfect. These verbs are linear in force, functioning practically like imperfects when put into the past. The reality of the fact is stressed, which present it more strongly than could be done with the aorist. It must be translated into English by the simple past.

The Extensive Pluperfect

This use denotes a state following completed act in past time. Sometimes it is made clear by the context that a considerable space of time has intervened. It is used to take the reader behind the scenes. John uses it most frequently.

The Iterative Pluperfect

This use represents a past action as a series of events. It is very rare in the New Testament. Some have referred to it as the “Pluperfect of Broken Continuity”.

The Pluperfect of Conditional Sentence

This use denotes the continuance of the contingent result in a second-class condition to the time of speaking. The Pluperfect is used where the second-class conditions are determined to be unfulfilled in relationship to the past.

The Periphrastic Pluperfect

This use, which is formed by adding the perfect participle to an imperfect of εἰμί, occurs somewhat frequently in the New Testament. A majority of the occurrences are “intensive,” the rest are “extensive.”

© 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 […]

Pluperfect Tense2023-12-11T12:21:43-08:00

Perfect Tense

The Perfect Tense

The Kind of Action of the Perfect Tense:

Durative and Punctiliar. Completed action with abiding results.

The Dramatic Perfect

An action completed in the past is conceived in terms of the present time for the sake of vividness. This was a use suited for the orator or the dramatist, and was often used in rhetorical questions. John uses it more than any other New Testament writer. It would be similar to ours, “The first thing you know he has done it.” (It is sometimes referred to as the “Present Perfect.”).

The Intensive Perfect 

This use is a strong way of saying that a thing is, denoting an action rather than a state resulting from an action, having the force of an emphatic present. Stress is placed on the existing fact. This is done more forcibly than either the Greek or English present could ever do. This use is primarily used with verbs of senses.

The Extensive Perfect

This use denotes a completed act that has abiding results. It emphasizes that the action took place and still has abiding results. The finished process with its results is expressed, not the existing state. (CF. The Intensive Perfect). This is the most frequent use of the perfect.

The Gnomic Perfect 

This use denotes an action that was generally true. It is rare in the New Testament.

The Iterative Perfect 

This use denotes repeated action. Completed action is stressed, but something in the context or in the meaning of the word (or both) indicate(s) that the idea of the action was iterative. It is relatively rare in the New Testament.

The Periphrastic Perfect

This use emphasizes an existing state. It is made up of the perfect […]

Perfect Tense2023-12-11T12:21:28-08:00

Imperfect Tense

The Imperfect Tense Verb

The Kind of Action of the Imperfect Tense:

The imperfect tense expresses a linear or continuous action in past time. The time element is more predominate because it is exclusively used with the Indicative mode.

The Progressive  Imperfect

This use denotes action in progress in past time. This is the most common use of the tense. It draws a picture of a past event. Only the context determines whether the action is completed.

The Iterative   Imperfect

This action of the imperfect is represented as recurring at successive intervals in past time. It is sometimes difficult to tell whether an act is merely descriptive or a series of actions. The context must be studied carefully to determine which it is. It is translated into English by “kept on”.

The Customary Imperfect

This use represents an action that occurred on a regular or ordinary basis in past time. It emphasizes the regularity of the action over a period of time in the past. English would the customary imperfect by “used to”.

The Inceptive  Imperfect

This use denotes the beginning of an action or that which was upon the point of occurring, in past time. The action is continuous in past time, but the emphasis is on the beginning, not its progress. It occurs frequently in the New Testament. It may be translated by “one went to doing.”

The Inchoative Imperfect

This use denoted an action as merely begun in the past, but not carried out yet. May be expressed in English with “began.”

The Conative Imperfect

This use denotes an action that was interrupted in the past. The action was begun, but not completed.

The Tendential Imperfect

Imperfect Tense2023-12-11T12:20:41-08:00

Biblical Greek First Year Lesson 9

Class Notes

Imperfect Indicative Middle and Passive

The Imperfect Indicative Middle and Passive are grammatical construction that expresses an action being performed on the subject (passive voice) or by the subject for the subject’s benefit (middle voice) and occurring continuously or repeatedly in the past (imperfect tense). This tense is used when describing events that were ongoing, habitual, or repeated over a period of time, rather than a single, completed action.

The Imperfect Indicative Middle and Passive Endings:

Singular

1st Person:  – όμην

2nd Person: – ου

3rd Person: – ετο

Plural

1st Person: – όμεθα

2nd Person: – εσθε

3rd Person: – οντο

The imperfect Tense indicated action in the past, up to the point of writing. It is ongoing or repetitive action occurring in the past.

The indicative mood is used to express a statement as factual or reality. Therefore, the action is perceived as real or certain.

The passive voice emphasis that action of the verb being performed on the subject. Where the middle expresses the subject performs the action and is directly involved in its effect or outcome; therefore, done for the subject’s own benefit, on themselves, or in some reciprocal manner.

Imperfect Indicative Middle/Passive conjugation using λύω (to loose).

Singular

1st Person: ἐλυόμην – I was loosing (for myself)

2nd Person: ἐλύου – You were loosing (for yourself)

3rd Person: ἐλύετο – He/She/It was loosing (for him/her/itself)

Plural

1st Person: ἐλυόμεθα – We were loosing (for ourselves)

2nd Person: ἐλύεσθε – You all were loosing (for yourselves)

3rd Person: ἐλύοντο – They were loosing (for themselves)

Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive Examples:

ἐγίνετο (from γίνομαι – “to become” or “to […]

Biblical Greek First Year Lesson 92024-11-03T15:36:32-08:00

Biblical Greek First Year Lesson 7

Class Notes

Imperfect Indicative Active

Imperfect Indicative Active

The Imperfect Indicative Active Endings:

Singular

1st person: – ν

2nd person: – ς

3rd person: –

Plural

1st person: – μεν

2nd person: – τε

3rd person: – ν or σαν

The imperfect is a past tense that denotes continuous or repeated action in the past. Unlike the aorist when expressing past tense, which describes a simple, completed action, the imperfect emphasizes the ongoing, habitual, or iterative nature of the action. This tense is used to describe actions that were in progress or repeated over a period of time in the past, up to the point of writing, often without a clear indication of when they were completed.

Form and Structure:

  • The imperfect is constructed by taking the verb stem (λου) and adding an augment (usually ἐ-) to the beginning of the verb to indicate past time, followed by specific tense endings. ἐ – λού – ον (“I was washing”)
  • Syllabic augment (ἐ-): used with verbs beginning with consonants.
  • Temporal augment (lengthening of the initial vowel): used with verbs that start with vowels.

Endings in the Imperfect Tense:

1st person singular: -ον (ἐ- + stem + ο + ν → “I was doing”)

2nd person singular: -ες (ἐ- + stem + ε + ς → “You were doing”)

3rd person singular: -ε(ν) (ἐ- + stem + ε + – → “He/She/It was doing”)

1st person plural: -ομεν (ἐ- + stem + ο + μεν → “We were doing”)

2nd person plural: -ετε (ἐ- + stem + ε + τε → “You (plural) were doing”)

3rd person plural: -ον (ἐ- + stem + ο + ν or σαν → “They were doing”)

Usage of the Imperfect Tense:

  • Narrative: Often used in narrative passages to set the scene or […]
Biblical Greek First Year Lesson 72024-10-18T07:22:14-07:00
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