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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

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

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

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 […]

Verb2023-12-11T12:19:31-08:00
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