A Reading Course in Homeric Greek
120
A Reading Course in Homeric Greek
- INDIRECT QUESTIONS: after primary tense main verb of asking, wondering, etc., the verb
within the subordinate clause (the question itself ) remains unchanged in mood.; however, the
verb within a question depending on a secondary main verb ordinarily shifts from the ind. (or
subj.) of the direct question into the corresponding tense of the opt., though it may stay
unchanged. Negative as in direct question form.
e‡retai t¤w ≤m°aw p°mcen.
He asks who sent us.
¶reto t¤w ≤m°aw p°mceien (p°mcen).
He asked who sent us. - POTENTIAL: to express an opinion as to what might, could, or would happen if certain
unstated circumstances should prevail; usually takes ên or ke(n). Negative oÈ. (This
construction is equal to the apodosis of a should-would construction.)
mØ b∞te: kte¤neie gãr ken Ím°aw pãntaw.
Don't go, for he might kill you all! - PURPOSE (introduced by ·na, ...w, ̃pvw, ˆfra. Negative ·na mÆ, sometimes mÆ alone)
a. Present purpose: to express intended action, after primary main verb; verb in subj., intro-
duced by ·na, ...w, ̃pvw, ˆfra. Negative ·na mÆ, sometimes mÆ alone.
peÊyomai ·na gign≈skvmen.
I inquire in order that we may know.
peÊyomai ˆfra mØ nÆpiow Œ.
I inquire in order that I may not be foolish.
b. Past purpose: to express intended action after secondary main verb; verb in opt., 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.- SHOULD-WOULD: see above, 7b.
- WISHES, both possible and impossible of fulfillment: opt.; 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!