A Reading Course in Homeric Greek
116
A Reading Course in Homeric Greek
SYNTAX OF THE VERB BY MOODS- INDICATIVE (tenses indicate time, as well as aspect of action):
a. Statements of fact: past, present, future time; simple, continuous, completed aspect. Nega-
tive oÈ.
¶rxetai. He comes. (He is coming.)
¶rxeto. He was coming.
∑lyen. He came.
•≈ratai. He has been seen.
oÈ l°jv. I shall not say.
b. Past and present contrary-to-fact: impf. or aor. ind. in both clauses, ên or ke(n) in
conclusion (apodosis). Negative mÆ in if- clause (protasis), oÈ in conclusion (apodosis).
efi mØ tÒde p¤nen, oÈk ín yãnen.
If he had not drunk this, he would not have died.- SUBJUNCTIVE (tenses indicate aspect, not time):
a. Hortatory: requested or proposed actions referring to the speaker himself; in first person,
sg. or pl. Negative mÆ.
mÆ tªde m°nvmen, •ta›roi, éllå fÊgvmen.
Let us not remain here, comrades, but let us flee.
b. Present purpose: to express intended action, after primary main verb; introduced by ·na,
...w, ̃pvw, ˆfra. Negative ·na mÆ, sometimes mÆ alone.
peÊyomai ·na gig≈nskvmen.
I inquire in order that we may know.
peÊyomai ˆfra mØ nÆpiow Œ.
I inquire in order that I may not be foolish.
c. Vivid future (future general) construction: to express a probable future supposition; often
with ên or ke(n). Negative mÆ.
efi (ken) ¶ly ̇, d°joma¤ min prÒfrvn.
If he comes, I shall receive him eagerly.
d. Present general: to indicate repeated occurrence in the present; may take ên or ke(n).
Negative mÆ.
̃te (ín) boÊlhtai, §p‹ yãlassan ¶rxetai.
Whenever he wishes, he goes to the sea.
N.B. The main verb is regularly pres. ind., negative oÈ.- OPTATIVE (tenses indicate aspect, not time):
a. Wishes: to express possible and impossible wishes (often equivalent to a polite imperative);
may be introduced by efi, e‡ye, efi gãr (“if only,” “would that”), especially if an impossible
wish.
pollã ge manyãnoimi.
At least, may I learn many things!
e‡ye mØ xalepÚn e‡h.
If only it were not difficult!
b. Past purpose: to express intended action after secondary main verb; introduced by ·na, ...w,
̃pvw, ˆfra. Negative ·na mÆ, sometimes mÆ alone.
yãne aÈtÚw ˆfra s≈zoi ≤m°aw.
He himself died in order to save us.
yãne aÈtÚw ·na mØ épolo¤meya.
He himself died in order that we might not perish.