FacebookYouTubeGoogle StoreApple Store

Need a new search

If you didn't find what you were looking for, try a new search!

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

Present Indicative Middle

Class Notes

Present Indicative Middle

The Present Indicative Middle in Greek is a grammatical mood, voice, and tense used to describe action that the subject performs with the emphasis on the subject’s involvement, either on himself or for his own benefit.

The middle voice represents the subject as acting with reference to himself. I wash myself (λούομαι); I buy for myself (ἀγοράζομαι).

The Present Indicative Middle in Greek follows the typical present indicative conjugation patterns, but with specific middle voice endings. In the present tense, the middle has the following personal endings:

Person Singular Plural
1st ομαι ομεθα
2nd ῃ (ει) εσθε
3rd εται ονται

Present Indicative Middle of λούω (“I wash myself”)

 

Person Form Translation
1st sg. λούομαι I wash myself
2nd sg. λούῃ (or λούει) You wash yourself
3rd sg. λούεται He washes himself
1st pl. λουόμεθα We wash ourselves
2nd pl. λούεσθε You all wash yourselves
3rd pl. λούονται They wash themselves

λούεσθαι (loúesthai) – “to wash oneself”

 

Thematic Vowel in the Present Indicative Middle

 

The thematic vowel is inserted between the verb stem and the middle endings. The thematic vowels are ο and ε, depending on the form, and they follow this pattern:

  1. ο before -μαι, -μεθα, -νται.
  2. ε before –ται, -σαι (contracted to ῃ or ει), and -σθε.

 

Present Indicative Middle Personal Endings:

Person Singular Plural
1st Person -μαι -μεθα
2nd Person -σαι -σθε
3rd Person -ται -νται

-σαι (contracted to ῃ or ει)

Present Indicative Middle thematic vowel:

Person Form Thematic Vowel Translation
1st sg. λούομαι ο I wash myself
2nd sg. λούεσαι (λούῃ) ε You wash yourself
3rd sg. λούεται ε He washes himself
1st pl. λουομεθα ο We wash ourselves
2nd pl. λούεσθε ε You all wash yourselves
3rd pl. λούονται ο They wash themselves

Examples:

 

Matthew 15:2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash (νίπτονται) their hands when they eat bread.”

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war (στρατευόμεθα) according to the flesh.

Galatians 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches (εὐαγγελίζεται) any other gospel to you than what you have received, let […]

Present Indicative Middle2024-10-05T08:47:05-07:00

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

Future Tense

The Future Tense Verb

The Kind of Action of the Future Tense:

Primarily punctiliar, though linear in some contexts. Often used with the Indicative to indicate future time.

The Predicative  Future 

This use denotes an event that is expected to take place in the future. This is the most common use of the tense.

The Progressive Future 

This use conveys action as going on in the future. The emphasis is simply on the action in progress in the future. The writer thought of it as continuing, not that it was going to be continued.

The
Imperatival  Future

This use is practically an imperative in sense, for it involves the will, either of the speaker or of the subject. Since the imperative naturally relates to the future, it is not an unnatural usage.

The Deliberative Future 

This use denotes the future by expressing a rhetorical question, i.e. one which does not really expect an answer. These questions require deliberation concerning the possibility, or the desirability, or the necessity of a proposed course of activity. It occurs frequently in quotations from the Septuagint.

The Gnomic Future 

This use refers to a general or timeless truth, which is valid for all times. This action is to be expected under certain circumstances. It is used infrequently in the New Testament.

The Periphrastic Future 

This use emphasizes the continuance of an action. It is used to express an action which one intends to do, or of that which is certain or destined to take place. It is similar to the “Progressive Future,” with the thought of continuance or customariness emphasized. It is formed by the future tense of εἰμί with the […]

Future Tense2023-12-11T12:21:15-08:00
Go to Top