Present 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 …

§360INFLECTION: PRELIMINARY REMARKS (355-380)Primary and Secondary Tenses.—There are two classes of tenses in the indicative: (1) Primary (or Principal) tenses, the present and perfect expressing present time, the future and …

§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…

§§368–370STEMSThe Tense-stems.—The tenses fall into nine classes called tense-systems. Each tense-system has its own separate tense-stem. SYSTEMS. TENSES. I. Present, including present and imper…

§382I. (A) VOWEL VERBS: NOT CONTRACTEDSYNOPSIS OF I. PRESENT SYSTEM II. FUTURE SYSTEM III. FIRST AORIST SYSTEM ACTIVE: Present and Imperfect Future 1 Aorist Indic. λῡ́ω I loose or am λῡ́σω I shall loose loosing ἔλῡον I…

§§627–657PRESENT 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,…

§§747–753PRESENT AND IMPERFECT ACTIVE AND MIDDLE (PASSIVE)Present Indicative.—a. The primary personal endings are added to the stem with the strong form in the singular and the weak form in the dual and plural. b. In the 2 sing. τίθης, ῑ̔…

§414 ACONJUGATION OF μι-VERBSThere are two main classes of μι-verbs. A. The root class. This class commonly ends in -η-μι or -ω-μι (from stems in ε, α, or ο). The present stem is usually reduplicated, but may …

§439REDUPLICATIONReduplication is the doubling of the sound standing at the beginning of a word. It is used in the perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect tenses in all the moods, to denote complet…

§447REDUPLICATIONReduplication in the Present.—A few verbs reduplicate in the present by prefixing the initial consonant and ι, as γί-γνομαι, γι-γνώσκω, μι-μνῄσκω, τί-κτω for τι-τ(ε)κω, πῑ́-πτω for…

§494CHANGES IN THE VERB-STEMReduplication.—The verb-stem may be reduplicated. a. In the present with ι: γι-γνώ-σκω (γνω-) know, τί-θη-μι place, ἵ-στη-μι set, δί-δω-μι give. The present reduplication may be ca…

§504FIRST OR SIMPLE CLASS(II) Presents without the thematic vowel (μι-verbs). The personal ending is added directly to the verb-stem, which is often reduplicated. The verb-stem shows different vowel grades…

§526 cFIFTH OR INCEPTIVE CLASS (VERBS IN -σκω)The present stem is formed by adding the suffix -σκόε- to the verb-stem if it ends in a vowel; -ισκόε- if it ends in a consonant. Thus, ἀρέ-σκω please, εὑρ-ίσκω find. a. This class…

§726FIRST OR SIMPLE CLASSReduplicated Presents.—δίδημι bind (rare for δέω), δίδωμι (δο-, δω-) give, ῑ̔́ημι (ἑ-, ἡ-) send, ἵστημι (στα-, στη-) set, κίχρημι (χρα-, χρη-) lend, ὀνίνημι (ὀνα-, ὀνη-) benefit, π…

§727FIRST OR SIMPLE CLASSVerbs in -μι reduplicate with ι in the present. See 414, 447. πί-μ-πλημι and πί-μ-πρημι may lose the inserted nasal in compounds of ἐν, but only when ἐν- takes the form ἐμ-; as ἐμπ…

§§1851–1858KIND 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…

§1853STAGE OF ACTIONThe present stem may denote the simple action of the verb in present time without regard to its continuance; as θαυμάζω I am seized with astonishment, ἀστράπτει it lightens (once o…

§§1875–1888PRESENT INDICATIVEThe present represents a present state, or an action going on at the present time: ἀληθῆ λέγω I am telling the truth L. 13.72. a. On the present without any idea of duration, see 1…

§1876PRESENT INDICATIVEPresent of Customary Action.—The present is used to express a customary or repeated action: οὗτος μὲν γὰρ ὕδωρ, ἐγὼ δ᾽ οἶνον πῑ́νω for this man drinks water, whereas I drink wine D…

§1877PRESENT INDICATIVEPresent of General Truth.—The present is used to express an action that is true for all time: ἄγει δὲ πρὸς φῶς τὴν ἀλήθειαν χρόνος time brings the truth to light Men. Sent. 11. a. …

§1878PRESENT INDICATIVEConative Present.—The present may express an action begun, attempted, or intended. τὴν δόξαν ταύτην πείθουσιν ῡ̔μᾶς ἀποβαλεῖν they are trying to persuade you to throw away this ren…

§1879PRESENT INDICATIVEPresent for the Future (Present of Anticipation).—The present is used instead of the future in statements of what is immediate, likely, certain, or threatening. μεταξὺ τὸν λόγον κα…

§1882PRESENT INDICATIVEOracular Present.—In prophecies a future event may be regarded as present: χρόνῳ ἀγρεῖ Πριάμου πόλιν ᾱ̔́δε κέλευθος in time this expedition will capture Priam's city A. Ag. 126.

§1883PRESENT INDICATIVEHistorical Present.—In lively or dramatic narration the present may be used to represent a past action as going on at the moment of speaking or writing. This use does not occur in …

§1884PRESENT INDICATIVEAnnalistic Present.—Closely connected with the historical present is the annalistic present, which is used to register historical facts or to note incidents. Δᾱρείου καὶ Παρυσάτιδο…

§1885PRESENT INDICATIVEPresent of Past and Present Combined.—The present, when accompanied by a definite or indefinite expression of past time, is used to express an action begun in the past and continue…

§1886PRESENT INDICATIVEPresent for Perfect.—ἥκω I am come, I have arrived, οἴχομαι I am gone, have a perfect sense; as also ἔρχομαι, ἀφικνοῦμαι. Thus, Θεμιστοκλῆς ἥκω παρὰ σέ I Themistocles have come to …

§1887PRESENT INDICATIVEThe present of certain verbs often expresses an enduring result, and may be translated by the perfect: ἀδικῶ I am guilty (ἄδικός εἰμι), I have done wrong, νῑκῶ, κρατῶ, I am victori…

§1888PRESENT INDICATIVEIn subordinate clauses, the action expressed by the present may be (a) contemporaneous, (b) antecedent, or (c) subsequent to that set forth by the main verb. The context alone deci…

§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…

§1915FUTURE INDICATIVEFuture for Present.—The future may be used instead of the present of that which is possible at the moment of speaking: εὑρήσομεν τοὺς φιλοτῑ́μους τῶν ἀνδρῶν . . . ἀντὶ τοῦ ζῆν ἀποθ…

§1936AORIST INDICATIVEAorist for Present.—The aorist is used in questions with τί οὖν ου and τί οὐ to express surprise that something has not been done. The question is here equivalent to a command or p…

§2326Third Form of Conditions: MORE VIVID FUTURE CONDITIONSThe apodosis of the more vivid future condition is the future indicative or any other form of the simple sentence that refers to future time. a. Future Indicative: ἐᾱ̀ν ζητῇς καλῶς…

§2337Fifth Form of Conditions: PRESENT GENERAL CONDITIONSPresent general conditions have, in the protasis, ἐᾱ́ν (ἤν, ᾱ̓́ν) with the subjunctive; in the apodosis, the present indicative or an equivalent. ἐᾱ̀ν ταῦτα ποιῇς (ποιήσῃς), σὲ ἐπα…

§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 …

§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 …

§2360εἰ with the Optative, Apodosis a primary tense of the Indicative, etc.Present Indicative.—a. In general statements and maxims. The apodosis is sometimes introduced by a verb requiring the infinitive. ἀνδρῶν γὰρ σωφρόνων μέν ἐστιν, εἰ μὴ ἀδικοῖντο, ἡσ…

§2407FUTURE TEMPORAL CLAUSES WITH THE OPTATIVEThe principal clause rarely has the present or future indica tive, when the temporal clause has the optative without ἄν (cp. 2360, 2361, 2573 b, c). φρονήσεως δεῖ πολλῆς πρὸς τοὺς …

§2410TEMPORAL CLAUSES IN GENERIC SENTENCESIn temporal sentences of indefinite frequency the temporal clause has the subjunctive with ἄν when the principal clause has the present indicative, or any other tense denoting a pr…

§2413TEMPORAL CLAUSES IN GENERIC SENTENCESThe present indicative is very rarely used instead of the subjunctive with ἄν in temporal clauses of indefinite frequency. Thus, περὶ τῶν ἄλλων τῶν ἀδικούντων, ὅτε (ὅτου conj.) δικ…

§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 …

§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…

§2481 aSIMILES AND COMPARISONSὡς, ὡς εἰ, ὡς εἴ τε as if, ὡς ὅτε, ὡς ὁπότε as when are often used in poetry in similes and comparisons. a. The present and aorist indicative and subjunctive (usually without ἄν) a…

§2482SIMILES AND COMPARISONSὡς (ὥς τε) is followed by the indicative present (less often aorist) or by the subjunctive. Thus, ὡς δὲ πατὴρ οὗ παιδὸς ὀδῡ́ρεται ὀστέα καίων . . . , ὣς Ἀχιλεὺς ἑτάροιο ὀδῡ́ρετο ὀσ…

§2562First Form: SIMPLE PRESENT AND PAST CONDITIONAL RELATIVESSimple present and past conditional relative clauses have the present or past indicative. The main clause has the indicative or any other form of the simple sentence (cp. 2298, 230…

§2567Fifth Form PRESENT GENERAL CONDITIONAL RELATIVESPresent general conditional relative clauses have ἄν with the subjunctive. The main clause has the present indicative or an equivalent. νέος δ᾽ ἀπόλλυθ᾽ ὅντιν᾽ (= εἴ τινα) ἂν φιλῇ …

§2569INDICATIVE 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…

§2573 a, bLESS USUAL FORMS OF CONDITIONAL RELATIVE SENTENCESThe optative in the relative clause with the present or future indicative or the imperative in the main clause (cp. 2359). With the present this occurs especially in general statem…

§1801SUBJUNCTIVE WITHOUT ἄνDoubtful Assertion.—The present subjunctive with μή may express a doubtful assertion, with μὴ οὐ a doubtful negation. The idea of apprehension or anxiety (real or assumed) is due t…

§1802SUBJUNCTIVE WITHOUT ἄνIn Hom. μή with the independent subjunctive is used to indicate fear and warning, or to suggest danger: μή τι χολωσάμενος ῥέξῃ κακὸν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν may he not (as I fear he may) in hi…

§1804SUBJUNCTIVE WITHOUT ἄνFrom the use in 1801 is probably developed the construction of οὐ μή with the aorist (less often the present) subjunctive to denote an emphatic denial; as οὐ μὴ παύσωμαι φιλοσοφῶν …

§1805SUBJUNCTIVE WITHOUT ἄνDeliberative Subjunctive.—The deliberative subjunctive (present or aorist) is used in questions when the speaker asks what he is to do or say (negative μή). a. Usually in the first…

§1840NEGATIVE (PROHIBITIONS)Prohibitions are expressed by μή with the present or aorist subjunctive in the first person plural; by μή with the present imperative or the aorist subjunctive in the second and th…

§1841NEGATIVE (PROHIBITIONS)a. μὴ γράφε, like don't write, is ambiguous and may mean, according to the situation, either cease writing or abstain from writing. Commonly μὴ γράφε means do not go on writing, wr…

§1860THE TENSES OUTSIDE OF THE INDICATIVESubjunctive.—The subjunctive mood as such refers to the future. The tenses do not refer to differences of time, and denote only the stage of the action (continuance, simple occurre…

§2325Third Form of Conditions: MORE VIVID FUTURE CONDITIONSThe present subjunctive views an act as continuing (not completed); the aorist subjunctive as simply occurring (completed). Neither tense has any time of itself. The aorist subjunc…

§2336GENERAL CONDITIONSAny simple or unreal condition of present or past time, or any future condition, may refer to a customary or frequently repeated act or to a general truth. But for the present and …

§2400TEMPORAL CLAUSES REFERRING TO THE FUTUREThe present marks the action as continuing (not completed), the aorist marks the action as simply occurring (completed). The present usually sets forth an action contemporaneous wi…

§2401FUTURE TEMPORAL CLAUSES WITH THE SUBJUNCTIVETemporal clauses referring to the future take the subjunctive with ἄν in sentences corresponding to more vivid future conditions. The principal clause has the future indicative or …

§2423 bἕως so long as, while: Temporal Limit as to Duration (during the time when)Subjunctive (present) with ἄν, when the action lies in the a. Future, and the verb of the main clause is future indicative or an equivalent form. b. Present, and the verb of the ma…

§2426 bἕως until, till: Temporal Limit as to Termination (up to the time when)Subjunctive with ἄν, when the action lies in the a. Future, and the main clause contains a verb referring to the future (except the optative without ἄν). The tense is usually the a…

§2444 aπρίν WITH THE SUBJUNCTIVE(I) πρίν takes the subjunctive with ἄν to denote a future action anticipated by the subject of the leading verb. The principal clause is negative, and contains any verb referring t…

§2481 aSIMILES AND COMPARISONSὡς, ὡς εἰ, ὡς εἴ τε as if, ὡς ὅτε, ὡς ὁπότε as when are often used in poetry in similes and comparisons. a. The present and aorist indicative and subjunctive (usually without ἄν) a…

§§1861–1863THE TENSES OUTSIDE OF THE INDICATIVEOptative (not in indirect discourse).—The reference is always to future time. The tenses do not refer to differences of time, and denote only the stage of the action. Present (cont…

§2331Fourth Form of Conditions: LESS VIVID FUTURE CONDITIONSThe present optative views an action as continuing (not completed); the aorist optative, as simply occurring (completed). (The future optative is never used except to represent a f…

§2336GENERAL CONDITIONSAny simple or unreal condition of present or past time, or any future condition, may refer to a customary or frequently repeated act or to a general truth. But for the present and …

§2424ἕως so long as, while: Temporal Limit as to Duration (during the time when)The present optative (of future time) is very rare: in dependence on a past tense (X. H. 5.4.37, Aristotle, Athen. Pol. 28 end); by regular assimilation (2186 b) in a less vivid co…

§2427 N.ἕως until, till: Temporal Limit as to Termination (up to the time when)Optative (usually aorist), when the action lies in the a. Future, and depends on an optative with ἄν. b. Past, and depends on a secondary tense expressing or implying indirect disc…

§2611 bGENERAL PRINCIPLES OF INDIRECT DISCOURSEAll optatives with or without ἄν in the direct form are retained (with or without ἄν) in indirect discourse introduced by ὅτι or ὡς. After verbs requiring the participle or infinit…

§1840NEGATIVE (PROHIBITIONS)Prohibitions are expressed by μή with the present or aorist subjunctive in the first person plural; by μή with the present imperative or the aorist subjunctive in the second and th…

§1841NEGATIVE (PROHIBITIONS)a. μὴ γράφε, like don't write, is ambiguous and may mean, according to the situation, either cease writing or abstain from writing. Commonly μὴ γράφε means do not go on writing, wr…

§1864THE TENSES OUTSIDE OF THE INDICATIVEImperative.—The imperative always implies future time. The tenses do not refer to differences of time, and denote only the stage of the action. a. Present (continuance): τοὺς γονεῖ…

§1778INDICATIVE WITHOUT ἄνPresent or past time is denoted when the present infinitive is used. When the reference is to present time, the action of the present infinitive is always denied. Past time is deno…

§1781INDICATIVE WITHOUT ἄνAn unattainable wish may also be expressed by ὤφελον (ought) with the present or aorist infinitive: ὤφελε Κῦρος ζῆν would that Cyrus were (now) alive (Cyrus ought to be alive) X. A…

§1846INFINITIVE AND PARTICIPLE WITH ἄνThe present infinitive or participle with ἄν represents the imperfect indicative with ἄν or the present optative with ἄν. a. (inf.) ἀκούω Λακεδαιμονίους ἂν ἀναχωρεῖν ἐπ᾽ οἴκου I he…

§§1865–1870THE TENSES OUTSIDE OF THE INDICATIVEInfinitive (not in indirect discourse).—The tenses of the infinitive (without ἄν) not in indirect discourse have no time of themselves and express only the stage of the action; the…

§1868THE TENSES OUTSIDE OF THE INDICATIVEThe construction of verbs of hoping, etc.—Verbs signifying to hope, expect, promise, threaten, swear, with some others of like meaning, when they refer to a future event, take eith…

§1999A. Object Infinitive after Verbs of Will or DesireVerbs signifying to hope, expect, promise, threaten , and swear, when followed by the aorist (less often the present) infinitive (1868), have the construction of verbs of will or d…

§2024INFINITIVE AS OBJECT IN INDIRECT DISCOURSEVerbs signifying to hope, expect, promise, threaten , and swear take the future infinitive in indirect discourse, and the aorist (less often the present) infinitive not in indirect…

§1959PERIPHRASTIC TENSESPeriphrastic Future.—A periphrastic future is formed by μέλλω I am about to, intend to, am (destined) to, am likely to (strictly think) with the present or future (rarely the aoris…

§1998A. Object Infinitive after Verbs of Will or DesireThe present and aorist infinitive (both timeless) are the usual tenses of the infinitive after verbs of will or desire (see 1869). The perfect is rare; as εἶπον τὴν θύρᾱν κεκλεῖσθα…

§2261ὥστε (RARELY ὡς) WITH THE INFINITIVEThe infinitive with ὥστε is usually present or aorist, rarely perfect (e.g. D. 18.257). The future is common only in indirect discourse (D. 19.72).

§2314UNREAL CONDITIONS—APODOSIS WITHOUT ἄνThe present infinitive generally expresses what would necessarily, possibly, or properly be done now. The aorist, and sometimes the present, infinitive expresses what would necessa…

§2453 cπρίν WITH THE INFINITIVEπρίν takes the infinitive in Attic especially when the principal clause is affirmative. The infinitive must be used, even with negative clauses, when πρίν must mean only before (an…

§1846INFINITIVE AND PARTICIPLE WITH ἄνThe present infinitive or participle with ἄν represents the imperfect indicative with ἄν or the present optative with ἄν. a. (inf.) ἀκούω Λακεδαιμονίους ἂν ἀναχωρεῖν ἐπ᾽ οἴκου I he…

§§1872–1874THE TENSES OUTSIDE OF THE INDICATIVEParticiple (not in indirect discourse).—The participle, as a verbal adjective, is timeless. The tenses of the participle express only continuance, simple occurrence, and completion…

§1961PERIPHRASTIC TENSESWith εἰμί.—The present and perfect participle are freely used with the forms of εἰμί to form a periphrasis, especially when the participle has an adjectival character (1857): ἡγεῖ …

§2091THE SUPPLEMENTARY PARTICIPLEThe present or perfect participle is often used as a simple predicate adjective, especially with εἰμί and γίγνομαι. The aorist participle is chiefly poetic. ἦσαν ἀπιστοῦντές τινες …

§2096THE SUPPLEMENTARY PARTICIPLE NOT IN INDIRECT DISCOURSEτυγχάνω (poet. κυρῶ) happen, am just now, λανθάνω escape the notice of, am secretly, φθάνω anticipate, am beforehand. a. With these verbs the participle contains the main idea, and…

§2098 aTHE SUPPLEMENTARY PARTICIPLE NOT IN INDIRECT DISCOURSEWith verbs signifying to begin, cease, endure, grow weary of an action. ἄρχομαι begin (2128), παύω cause to cease, παύομαι, λήγω cease, ἀπολείπω, διαλείπω, ἐπιλείπω leave off, ἐλλε…

§2112 a N.CONSTRUCTION OF VERBS OF PERCEIVING AND OF FINDINGThe participle may stand either not in indirect discourse or in indirect discourse. a. Not in Indirect Discourse.—Here verbs of perceiving denote physical perception—the act percei…

§2344MODIFICATIONS OF THE PROTASISSubstitutions for the Protasis.—For the protasis with εἰ there may be substituted a participle, often in the genitive absolute (2067, 2070), an adverb, a prepositional phrase, a re…