Questions

§1263THE INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNSThe interrogatives (pronouns and adverbs, 340, 346) are used in direct and in indirect questions. In indirect questions the indefinite relatives ὅστις, etc., are generally used ins…

§1770INDICATIVE WITHOUT ἄνThe indicative mood makes a simple, direct assertion of fact; or asks a question anticipating such an assertion: ἦλθε he came, οὐκ ἦλθε he did not come, ἐλεύσεται he will come, πότ…

§§1805–1808SUBJUNCTIVE 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…

§1811SUBJUNCTIVE WITHOUT ἄνThe subjunctive is used in τί πάθω; what will become of me; what am I to do? (lit. what shall I undergo?) as P. Eu. 302d. So τί γένωμαι; quid me fiet? Thus, ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τί πάθω; τί …

§1821 aOPTATIVE WITHOUT ἄνPotential Optative.—The potential optative, which in Attic regu larly takes ἄν (1824), is occasionally found in Homer and later poetry in an earlier form, without that particle: ῥε…

§1831OPTATIVE WITH ἄνThe potential optative with ἄν is used in questions: τίς οὐκ ἂν ὁμολογήσειεν; who would not agree? (οὐδείς: scil. οὐκ ἂν ὁμολογήσειε) X. M. 1.1.5. So even the optative of wish: τί …

§1832OPTATIVE WITH ἄνπῶς ἄν, τίς ἄν with the potential optative may be used to express a wish (especially in the tragic poets): πῶς ἂν ὀλοίμᾱν oh, would that I might die E. Med. 97, τίς ἂν ἐν τάχει μόλ…

§1838POSITIVE (COMMANDS)The third person may be used in questions: οὐκοῦν κείσθω ταῦτα; shall these points be established? P. L. 820e. Cp. 1842 a.

§1842 aNEGATIVE (PROHIBITIONS)The imperative may be used in subordinate clauses: κρᾱτῆρές εἰσιν . . . ὧν κρᾶτ᾽ ἔρεψον there are mixing-bowls, the brims of which thou must crown S. O. C. 473. a. Especially after…

§1879 aPRESENT 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…

§1916FUTURE INDICATIVEDeliberative Future.—The future is often used in deliberative questions: τί ἐροῦμεν ἢ τί φήσομεν; what shall we say or what shall we propose? D. 8.37. a. The deliberative future ma…

§2639INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES (QUESTIONS)Deliberative Questions ask what is to be done or what was to be done. Questions asking what is to be done in the present or future are expressed by the deliberative subjunctive (ne…

§1918FUTURE INDICATIVEThe future with οὐ interrogative is used in questions in an imperative sense to express urgency, warning, or irony: οὐκ ἔξιμεν . . . οὐκ ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκείνου πλευσόμεθα; shall we not go…

§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…

§1959 dPERIPHRASTIC 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…

§2064 a, bTHE CIRCUMSTANTIAL PARTICIPLECause.—Παρύσατις . . . ὑπῆρχε τῷ Κῡ́ρῳ, φιλοῦσα αὐτὸν μᾶλλον ἢ τὸν βασιλεύοντα Ἀρταξέρξην Parysatis favoured Cyrus because she loved him more than she did Artaxerxes the king X. A.…

§2157SUMMARY OF THE FORMS OF SIMPLE SENTENCESQUESTIONS A simple question results from making any form of statement interrogative. Direct and indirect questions are treated in 2636 ff. See also the Index.

§2244CAUSAL CLAUSESἐπεί may introduce a coördinate command (imperative S. El. 352, potential optative, P. G. 474b), wish (S. O. T. 661), or question (S. O. T. 390). Cp. the use of ὥστε, 2275. Sometim…

§2275ὥστε (ὡς) WITH A FINITE VERBWith an imperative, a hortatory or prohibitory subjunctive, or an interrogative verb, a clause with ὥστε is coördinate rather than subordinate, and ὥστε has the force of καὶ οὕτως.…

§2636INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES (QUESTIONS)Questions are either direct (independent) or indirect (dependent). Thus, τίς ἔλεξε ταῦτα; who said this? ἐρωτῶ ὅστις ἔλεξε ταῦτα I ask who said this.

§2637INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES (QUESTIONS)Questions may have the assertive form with the interrogation expressed simply by the tone of the voice, or may be introduced by an interrogative pronoun, adjective, adverb, or part…

§2638INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES (QUESTIONS)Yes and No Questions (or sentence-questions) are asked by the verb (whether a given thing is or is done). Such questions are commonly introduced by an interrogative particle. Prono…

§2680ANSWERS TO YES AND NO QUESTIONSYes and No questions may be answered in various ways, e.g.: a. By repeating the verb or another emphatic word with or without one or more confirmative adverbs. Thus, φῂς σὺ ἀμείνω …

§2638INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES (QUESTIONS)Yes and No Questions (or sentence-questions) are asked by the verb (whether a given thing is or is done). Such questions are commonly introduced by an interrogative particle. Prono…

§2639INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES (QUESTIONS)Deliberative Questions ask what is to be done or what was to be done. Questions asking what is to be done in the present or future are expressed by the deliberative subjunctive (ne…

§2640INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES (QUESTIONS)Rhetorical Questions are questions asked for effect and not for information, since the speaker knows the answer in advance and either does not wait for, or himself gives, the answe…

§§2641–2649DIRECT (INDEPENDENT) QUESTIONSAny form of statement (2153) may be used as a direct question. The interrogative meaning may be indicated only by the context, or it may be expressed by placing an emphatic word fi…

§§2650–2655QUESTIONS INTRODUCED BY INTERROGATIVE PARTICLESἦ and ἆρα introduce questions asking merely for information and imply nothing as to the answer expected (neither yes nor no). ἦ τέθνηκεν Οἰδίπου πατήρ; is Oedipus' father really de…

§§2656–2661DIRECT ALTERNATIVE QUESTIONSDirect alternative questions are usually introduced by πότερον (πότερα) . . . ἤ whether . . . or (Lat. utrum . . . an). πότερον δέδρᾱκεν ἢ οὔ; has he done it or not? D. 23.79, πότε…

§2662MOODS IN DIRECT QUESTIONSThe moods used in direct questions are the same as those used in statements. a. Indicative (examples in 2642): sometimes in a past tense with ἄν, as πῶς δὲ πάντες ἐζήλουν ἂν τοὺς τ…

§1809SUBJUNCTIVE WITHOUT ἄνThe Negative in Questions.—The use of μή (not οὐ) in questions is due to the fact that the construction of 1805 is simply the interrogative form of the hortatory subjunctive: φῶμεν…

§2703SIMPLE SENTENCES AND INDEPENDENT CLAUSESStatements (2153) expressed by simple sentences and independent clauses take οὐ. Direct questions take either οὐ or μή (2651). The independent future indicative has μή only in ques…

§2784 eἀλλάἀλλά opposing Whole Sentences.—ἀλλά well, well but, nay but, however is often used, especially at the beginning of a speech, in opposition either to something said (or supposed to …

§2786ἀλλάἀλλά with other Particles.—For example: ἀλλὰ γάρ 2816; on οὐ γὰρ ἀλλά, see 2767. ἀλλὰ . . . γε but at any rate. ἀλλά γέ τοι (τοί γε) yet at least, yet be sure. ἀλλὰ δή well then. ἀ…

§2793ἄραIn direct questions ἄρα adds liveliness, while at the same time it marks connection or consequence. So τίς ἄρα who then? πῶς ἄρα how then? In questions of anxiety ἄρα marks increas…

§2794ἄραἄρα occurs in questions in which the admissibility of one opinion is inferred from the rejection of another. Thus, εἰπέ μοι, ἔφη, ὦ Οεοδότη, ἔστι σοι ἀγρός; οὐκ ἔμοιγ᾽, ἔφη. ἀλλ᾽ ἄ…

§2801ἀτάρἀτάρ (prepositive; Hom. also αὐτάρ from αὖτε + ἄρ) usually poetical, but found in Xenophon and Plato, is an adversative conjunction commonly used to introduce a strong or surprisin…

§2804γάρAdverbial γάρ appears in questions, answers, and wishes; and in many other cases where recourse is had to conscious or unconscious ellipse by those scholars who hold that γάρ is al…

§2805γάρIn questions, γάρ asks for confirmation of a preceding statement, or expresses assent or dissent; asks whether an act before mentioned was not reasonable; asks a question prompted …

§2806 aγάρIn answers γά<*> marks assent, assurance, sometimes dissent. Thus, δεινόν γε τοὐπίσαγμα τοῦ νοσἡματος. δεινὸν γὰρ οὐδὲ ῥητόν dread indeed is the burden of one disease. Aye dread in…

§2835δέAdversative δέ often marks a silent contrast, as at the beginning of speeches (ἐγὼ δὲ οὕτω γιγνώσκω X. A. 4.6.10); in questions which imply opposition to something just said (S. O.…

§2843 aδήIntensive δή emphasizes, and makes definite, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and other words. Thus, ἅπαντες δή absolutely all, κράτιστοι δή the very best, μόνος δή quite alone, ὀλίγ…

§2848δαί, δῆθεν, δήπου, δῆταδαί is used in colloquial Attic after interrogative words to express wonder, indignation, etc. Thus, τί δαί; πῶς δαί; what then? how so?

§2850δαί, δῆθεν, δήπου, δῆταδήπου probably, I presume, I should hope, doubtless, you will admit, is stronger than πού perhaps, I suppose. δήπου often has a touch of irony or doubt in stating a case that would…

§2851δαί, δῆθεν, δήπου, δῆταδῆτα assuredly, really, in truth, is rare outside of Attic. It occurs: (a) In answers, often when a word is repeated with assent; as γιγνώσκεθ᾽ ῡ̔μεῖς ἥτις ἔσθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ἡ γυνή; γιγνώσκ…

§2865ἦἦ is usually associated with other particles. ἦ γάρ when used alone in dialogue = is it not so? Cp. n'est ce pas, nicht wahr? Elsewhere it often has the force of am I to understand…

§2872Conjunctional καίIn questions, καί before an interrogative expression marks an objection occasioned by surprise or indignation; as καὶ τίς θανόντων ἦλθεν ἐξ Ἅιδου πάλιν; and, pray, who of the dead …

§2898μένμέν solitarium is commonest after personal pronouns; but occurs also after demonstrative pronouns (L. 25.16), after relatives (Aes. 3.209), after substantives without the article (…

§2918μέντοιAsseverative μέντοι certainly, surely, of course, in truth is very common in replies, where it expresses positive, eager, or reflective assent. Often with νὴ (μὰ) Δία. Thus, ἐγώ; σ…

§2928νῦν, νῡνῑ́, νῡ́ν, νύν, νύνύ̆ (enclitic; Epic and Cyprian), a still weaker form of νῦν, and less emphatic than δή. It is common in questions and appeals; less frequent in statements; as τίς νυ; who now? Als…

§2953 dοὐκοῦν, οὔκουνοὔκουν not then, therefore not, so not, at any rate . . . not, surely not (non igitur, non ergo). Here οὐ is strongly emphasized, and οὖν is either confirmative or inferential. οὔκ…

§2962οὖνοὖν often follows interrogative pronouns and adverbs (in dialogue); as τίς οὖν; who pray? τί οὖν, generally with the aorist, in impatient questions asks why that which is desired h…

§1263THE INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNSThe interrogatives (pronouns and adverbs, 340, 346) are used in direct and in indirect questions. In indirect questions the indefinite relatives ὅστις, etc., are generally used ins…

§§2663–2674INDIRECT (DEPENDENT) QUESTIONSIndirect questions are introduced by interrogative pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs, indefinite relative pronouns and adverbs (340, 346), or by certain interrogative particles (26…

§2186 dASSIMILATION OF MOODSAssimilation to the Optative.—When an optative of the principal clause refers to future time (potential optative and optative of wish), the subordinate clause takes the optative by…

§2234OTHER CONSTRUCTIONS WITH VERBS OF FEARINGIn Indirect Questions.—Here the ideas of fear and doubt are joined. Thus, φόβος εἰ πείσω δέσποιναν ἐμήν (direct πείσω; 1916) I have my doubts whether I shall (can) persuade my mist…

§2575. 3DEPENDENT SUBSTANTIVE CLAUSES (2574-2635)There are four main divisions of substantive clauses. 1. Dependent Statements: subordinate clauses stating that something is; as λέγει ὡς οὐδέν ἐστιν ἀδικώτερον φήμης he says that …

§2596INDIRECT DISCOURSEIndirect questions (2677) have the constructions of indirect discourse.

§2675INDIRECT ALTERNATIVE QUESTIONSIndirect alternative questions are introduced by the particles signifying whether . . . or: πότερον (πότερα) . . . ἤ, εἴτε . . . εἴτε, εἰ . . . ἤ, εἰ . . . εἴτε. See also under Par…

§2676THE NEGATIVES IN INDIRECT QUESTIONSThe negative of the direct form is usually preserved in indirect questions. εἴσομαι . . . πότερον ὁ ἔχων αὐτὸ οὐκ εὐδαίμων ἐστὶν ἢ εὐδαίμων I shall know whether its possessor is ha…

§§2677–2679MOODS IN INDIRECT QUESTIONSThe moods and tenses of indirect questions follow the same rules as govern clauses in indirect discourse. The person may be changed. After primary tenses, the mood and tense of the…