Topic · from the English index · as printed

Imperfect tense

§359INFLECTION: PRELIMINARY REMARKS (355-380)Tenses.—There are seven tenses in the indicative: present, imperfect, future, aorist, perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect. The future perfect commonly has a passive force, but …

secondary

§1858STAGE OF ACTIONPrimary and Secondary Tenses.—The primary tenses refer to present and future time (present, future, perfect, and future perfect), the secondary or historical tenses refer to past t…

iterative

§495CHANGES IN THE VERB-STEMIterative Imperfects and Aorists in -σκόε-.—Homer and Herodotus have iterative imperfects and aorists in -σκον and -σκομην denoting a customary or repeated past action. Homer has i…

§1790INDICATIVE WITH ἄνIterative Indicative (repeated action).—The imperfect and aorist with ἄν are used to express repeated or customary past action (post-Homeric): διηρώτων ἄν I used to ask P. A. 22b, …

§1894IMPERFECTIterative Imperfect.—ἄν may be used with this imperfect (1790): ἐπεθῡ́μει ἄν τις ἔτι πλείω αὐτοῦ ἀκούειν people would (used to) desire to hear still more from him X. C. 1.4.3.

§2341Sixth Form of Conditions: PAST GENERAL CONDITIONSThe iterative imperfect or aorist with ἄν (1894, 1933): εἰ δέ τις αὐτῷ περί του ἀντιλέγοι . . ., ἐπὶ τὴν ὑπόθεσιν ἐπανῆγεν ἂν πάντα τὸν λόγον if ever any one opposed him on any mat…

inflection

§627PRESENT AND IMPERFECT ACTIVE AND MIDDLE (PASSIVE)Indicative.—Vowel and consonant verbs in -ω inflect the present by attaching the primary endings (when there are any) to the present stem in -όε (-ώη-). λῡ́ω, τῑμῶ (τῑμά-ω), φαίνω,…

§634PRESENT AND IMPERFECT ACTIVE AND MIDDLE (PASSIVE)A few ω-verbs in the present and imperfect show forms of the μι-conjugation. These are usually Epic. δέχομαι, 3 pl. δέχαται await for δεχṇται, part. δέγμενος, imperf. ἐδέγμην. But …

§635CONTRACT VERBSVerbs in -αω, -εω, -οω contract the final α, ε, ο of the verb-stem with the thematic vowel -όε (-ώη) in the present and imperfect tenses. Thus, τῑμάω τῑμῶ, ποιέω ποιῶ, δηλόω δηλῶ; …

§§647–657CONTRACT VERBS IN THE DIALECTSIn the imperfect contraction generally occurs, and assimilation is rare.

§748PRESENT AND IMPERFECT ACTIVE AND MIDDLE (PASSIVE)Imperfect.—ἐτίθεις ἐτίθει, ἐδίδουν ἐδίδους ἐδίδου (for ἐδιδων, -ως, -ω) are thematic forms (746 b). For the imperfect of δύναμαι and ἐπίσταμαι see 465 b, N. 1. For the retention of…

In unfulfilled obligation

§§1774–1779INDICATIVE WITHOUT ἄνUnfulfilled Obligation (Propriety, Possibility).—With the imperfect indicative of impersonal expressions denoting obligation, propriety, necessity, or possibility, the action of a …

§1905IMPERFECTἔδει, ἐχρῆν.—The imperfect of verbs expressing obligation or duty may refer to present time and imply that the obligation or duty is not fulfilled: σῑγήσᾱς ἡνίκ᾽ ἔδει λέγειν keepin…

§§2313–2317UNREAL CONDITIONS—APODOSIS WITHOUT ἄνἄν may be omitted in the apodosis of an unreal condition when the apodosis consists of an imperfect indicative denoting unfulfilled obligation, possibility, or propriety. Such are …

in unattainable wish

§1780INDICATIVE WITHOUT ἄνUnattainable Wish.—A wish, referring to the present or past, which cannot be realized, is expressed by a past tense of the indicative with εἴθε or with εἰ γάρ (negative μή). The im…

with ἄν in past potential

§1784INDICATIVE WITH ἄνPast Potential.—The past tenses (usually the aorist, less commonly the imperfect) of the indicative with ἄν (κέν) denote past potentiality, probability (cautious statement), or nec…

to denote unreality

§§1786–1788INDICATIVE WITH ἄνUnreal Indicative.—The indicative of the historical tenses with ἄν (κέν) may denote unreality: τότε δ᾽ αὐτὸ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἂν ἐκρῑ́νετο ἐφ᾽ αὑτοῦ but the case would then have been decid…

with ἄν to express customary or repeated action

force

§§1851–1852KIND OF TIMEOnly in the indicative do the tenses show time absolutely present, past, or future. a. Present time is denoted by 1. The Present: γράφω I write, am writing. 2. The Perfect: γέγραφα…

§1856STAGE OF ACTIONThe difference between the present stem (present and imperfect) and the aorist stem may be compared to the difference between a line and a point (both starting point and end). Thus…

§§1889–1909IMPERFECTThe imperfect represents an action as still going on, or a state as still existing, in the past: Κῦρος οὔπω ἧκεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἔτι προσήλαυνε Cyrus had not yet arrived (1886), but was stil…

of continuance

§§1890–1892IMPERFECTImperfect of Continuance.—The imperfect thus represents an action as continuing in the past: διέφθειραν Ἀθηναίων πίντε καὶ εἴκοσι, οἳ ξυνεπολιορκοῦντο they put to death twenty-five…

of customary action

§1893IMPERFECTImperfect of Customary Action.—The imperfect is used to express frequently repeated or customary past actions: ἐπεὶ εἶδον αὐτὸν οἵπερ πρόσθεν προσεκύνουν, καὶ τότε προσεκύνησαν whe…

conative

§1895IMPERFECTConative Imperfect.—The imperfect may express an action attempted, intended, or expected, in the past. ἔπειθον αὐτούς, καὶ οὓς ἔπεισα, τούτους ἔχων ἐπορευόμην I tried to persuade t…

of resistance or refusal

§1896IMPERFECTImperfect of Resistance or Refusal.—With a negative, the imperfect often denotes resistance or refusal (would not or could not). The aorist with a negative denotes unrestricted den…

§1897IMPERFECTIf simple positive and negative are contrasted, the aorist is preferred with the latter: τὰ ὑπάρχοντά τε σῴζειν (positive with present) καὶ ἐπιγνῶναι μηδέν (negative with aorist) t…

of description

§1898IMPERFECTImperfect of Description.—The imperfect describes manners and customs; the situation, circumstances, and details, of events; and the development of actions represented as continuin…

§1899IMPERFECTThe imperfect is thus often used to explain, illustrate, offer reasons for an action, and to set forth accompanying and subordinate circumstances that explain or show the result of…

inchoative

§1900IMPERFECTInchoative Imperfect.—The imperfect may denote the beginning of an action or of a series of actions: ἐπειδὴ δὲ καιρὸς ἦν, προσέβαλλον but when the proper time arrived, they began a…

for present

§1901IMPERFECTImperfect for Present.—In descriptions of places and scenery and in other statements of existing facts the imperfect, instead of the present, is often used by assimilation to the t…

of truth just recognized

§1902IMPERFECT—Imperfect of a Truth Just Recognized.—The imperfect, usually some form of εἶναι, with ἄρα, is often used to denote that a present fact or truth has just been recognized, although …

of topics previously discussed

§1903IMPERFECTThe imperfect may refer to a topic previously discussed: ἦν ἡ μουσικὴ ἀντίστροφος τῆς γυμναστικῆς εἰ μέμνησαι music is (as we have seen) the counterpart of gymnastics, if you remem…

epistolary

§1904IMPERFECTThe epistolary imperfect is rare in Greek. See 1942 b.

§1942AORIST INDICATIVEEpistolary Tenses.—The writer of a letter or book, the dedicator of an offering, may put himself in the position of the reader or beholder who views the action as past: μετ᾽ Ἀρταβά…

ἔδει, ἐχρῆν

for pluperfect

§1906IMPERFECTImperfect for Pluperfect.—The imperfect has the force of the pluperfect in the case of verbs whose present is used in the sense of the perfect (1886). Thus, ἧκον I had come (rarely…

in subordinate clauses

§1907IMPERFECTIn subordinate clauses, the action expressed by the imperfect may be (a) contemporaneous with or (b) antecedent to that set forth by the main verb: (a) τοσοῦτοι ἦσαν οἱ ξύμπαντες ὅ…

)( aorist

§553IV. SECOND AORIST SYSTEMThe difference between an imperfect and an aorist depends formally on the character of the present. Thus ἔ-φη-ν said is called an ‘imperfect’ of φη-μί: but ἔ-στη-ν stood is a ‘seco…

§1908IMPERFECTImperfect and Aorist.—The imperfect and aorist often occur in the same passage; and the choice of the one or the other often depends upon the manner in which the writer may view a …

§1909IMPERFECTThe following statement presents the chief differences between imperfect and aorist as narrative tenses. Imperfect Aorist circumstances, details, course of mere fact of occurrence,…

in unreal conditions

§2304Second Form of Conditions: PRESENT AND PAST UNREAL CONDITIONSThe imperfect refers to present time or (sometimes) to a continued or habitual past act or state. The imperfect may be conative. εἰ ταῦτα ἐποίεις, καλῶς ἂν ἐποίεις if you were (now…

§§2307–2311Second Form of Conditions: PRESENT AND PAST UNREAL CONDITIONSIn reference to past time, the imperfect or aorist is used according as either tense would be used in an affirmative sentence not conditional. The pluperfect is commonly used when …

in unreal conditions without ἄν

§§2313–2320UNREAL CONDITIONS—APODOSIS WITHOUT ἄνἄν may be omitted in the apodosis of an unreal condition when the apodosis consists of an imperfect indicative denoting unfulfilled obligation, possibility, or propriety. Such are …

in apodosis to past general conditions

§§2340–2342Sixth Form of Conditions: PAST GENERAL CONDITIONSPast general conditions have, in the protasis, εἰ with the optative; in the apodosis, the imperfect indicative or an equivalent. εἰ ταῦτα ποιοίης (ποιήσειας), σὲ ἐπῄνουν if ever yo…

in protasis of indicative form of past general conditions

§2342INDICATIVE FORM OF GENERAL CONDITIONSPresent: protasis, εἰ with the present; apodosis, the present. Past: protasis, εἰ with the imperfect; apodosis, the imperfect. The protasis usually has εἴ τις, εἴ τι (cp. ὅστις, ὅ …

in principal clause of temporal sentence of indefinite frequency

§2414TEMPORAL CLAUSES IN GENERIC SENTENCESIn temporal sentences of indefinite frequency the temporal clause has the optative when the principal clause has the imperfect or any other tense denoting a past customary or repea…

in ἕως clause

§2422ἕως so long as, while: Temporal Limit as to Duration (during the time when)Indicative, when the action of the temporal clause denotes definite duration in the present or past. The present often connotes cause (while, now that, because). The imperfect is u…

§2425ἕως until, till: Temporal Limit as to Termination (up to the time when)Indicative, of a definite present or past action. The present connotes cause. The aorist is normally used of past action: the main verb is usually imperfect, but the aorist occurs …

after πρίν

§2434GENERAL RULE FOR πρίν BEFORE, UNTILπρίν is used with the aorist or (less often) with the imperfect indicative only when πρίν is equivalent to ἕως until; but, when the verb of the main clause is negatived, πρίν may b…

§2441 aπρίν WITH THE INDICATIVEπρίν in Attic prose takes the indicative of a definite past action when the verb of the principal clause is negative or implies a negative, rarely when it is affirmative. οὔτε τότε…

after ὥσπερ εἰ, ὥσπερ ἂν εἰ

§2478EXAMPLES OF COMPARATIVE CLAUSESὥσπερ εἰ (ὡσπερεί), ὥσπερ ἂν εἰ (ὡσπερανεί) just as if ( = just as would be the case, if) form a combination of a comparison and a condition, and are used with the indicative imper…

in main clause of past general conditional sentence

§2568Sixth Form PAST GENERAL CONDITIONAL RELATIVESPast general conditional relative clauses have the optative. The main clause has the imperfect or an equivalent. ἀεὶ πρὸς ᾧ (= εἰ πρός τινι) εἴη ἔργῳ, τοῦτο ἔπρᾱττεν whatever work …

in past general conditional relative clause

§2569 aINDICATIVE FORM OF GENERAL CONDITIONAL RELATIVE CLAUSESThe present indicative instead of the subjunctive with ἄν occurs in general conditional relative clauses (cp. 2342). This occurs chiefly after ὅστις, which is itself sufficiently g…

generally retained in indirect discourse

§2599GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF INDIRECT DISCOURSE(II) After secondary tenses, primary tenses of the indicative and all subjunctives may be changed to the same tense of the optative; but an indicative denoting unreality (with or w…

§2603GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF INDIRECT DISCOURSE(II) If subordinate clauses are introduced by a leading verb in a secondary tense, all primary tenses of the indicative and all subjunctives (with or without ἄν) may be changed to …

§2620COMPLEX SENTENCES IN INDIRECT DISCOURSESubordinate verbs in the imperfect, aorist (but see 2623 c, N. 3), or pluperfect indicative, and all optatives, remain unchanged. ἐπιστεῖλαι δὲ σφίσιν αὐτοῖς τοὺς ἐφόρους . . . εἰπ…

§2623 bREMARKS ON THE CONSTRUCTIONS OF INDIRECT DISCOURSEPast Tenses in Indirect Discourse.—The following rules govern past tenses in indirect discourse. a. The potential indicative with ἄν, the indicative in a condition denoting unreali…