A Reading Course in Homeric Greek
118
A Reading Course in Homeric Greek
e. As imperative: to express command. Negative mÆ.
tå gign≈skeiw, l°gein.
Say what you know!
f. Indirect discourse: to express an action depending on a main verb of saying, thinking,
perceiving, etc. Subject is in accusative case; tenses are in relation to the main verb (pres.
inf. for action contemporaneous with main verb; aor. inf. for action prior to main verb;
future for action subsequent to main verb). Negative oÈ.
¶fh pat°ra •Ún xrÆmata pote sx°yein pollã, nËn d¢ oÈk ¶xein oÈd¢ a‰ca
sxÆsein.
He said that his father once had many possessions, but that he did not now have nor would
quickly have many.- PARTICIPLE (tenses indicate time):
a. Circumstantial: to indicate cause, condition, manner, or circumstances attending the action
of the main verb. Negative oÈ if fact, otherwise mÆ.
eÏdvn §p‹ ga›an p°se ka‹ épÒleto.
While sleeping, he fell to the ground and was killed.
b. Adjectival: modifying a noun or pronoun. Negative oÈ.
tÚn m¢n feÊgonta ırãv, ênakta d¢ di≈konta.
I see that man fleeing, but I seeing the king in pursuit (pursuing).SYNTAX OF THE VERB BY CONSTRUCTIONS- CIRCUMSTANTIAL: ptc. indicates the circumstances under which the main action takes
place. Negative oÈ if fact, otherwise mÆ.
maxeÒmenow yãnen.
While fighting, he died. - COMMANDS: expressed by impt., inf., opt. when less forceful. Negative mÆ.
tå gign≈skeiw, l°ge (l°geiw, l°goiw).
Say what you know! - CONTRARY-TO-FACT IN PAST: 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. - EXPECTATION: indicating what one desires or expects to happen under assumed
circumstances, and equivalent to English “can, will” rather than “could, would, might.”
Optative, usually with ên or ke(n). Negative oÈ.
eÏrvm°n tina ̆w ín ≤m›n ıdÚn fa¤noi.
Let's find someone who can show us the way. - EXPLANATORY: inf. explaining sense of another word. Negative mÆ. Also, by §pe¤ or ̃ti
with ind. Negative oÈ.
xalepÚn no∞sai.
It is difficult to perceive (To perceive is difficult.)
̃ti se fil«, ≥luyon.
Because I love you, I came.
I see that man fleeing, but I see the king in pursuit (pursuing).