Ancient Greek for Everyone:A New Digital Resource for Beginning Greek

Unit 7 part 4: contract verbs

2013 editionWilfred E. Majorwmajor@lsu.edu

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This class AGE Unit 7 part 4: contract verbs• This final part of Unit 7 introduces Greek verbs that

have contractions between their stems and their personal endings.

Ancient Greek for Everyonefrom Unit 1:Saying two vowels in a row • Speakers of Classical Greek did not like to say two vowel

sounds in a row. • Consequently, if two vowels came together, they tended to – merge them into one

(called a “diphthong,” Greek for “double sound”) – or contract them.

• Specifically: – A vowel + ι or υ forms a diphthong.– α, ε and ο contract with each other.

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α, ε and ο + α contract:• α + α = ᾱ

• ε + α = η

• ο + α = ω

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α, ε and ο + ε contract:• α + ε = ᾱ

• ε + ε = ει

• ο + ε = ου

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α, ε and ο + ο contract:• α + ο = ω

• ε + ο = ου

• ο + ο = ου

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Contract Verbs• The rules of vowel contraction operate in verbs

when the stem ends in one of the vowels α, ε or ο. • In these cases, this final vowel of the stem contracts

with the thematic vowel of “-ω verbs.” • Since “-μι verbs” do not have this thematic vowel,

they do not need to contract.

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Contract Verbs• The most common type of contraction in verbs involves

-ε, where the contractions are: – ε + ω ω – ε + ει ει – ε + ο ου – ε + ε ει – ε + ου ου

• Notice that when -ε contracts with a long vowel sound, the long sound simply swallows the -ε.

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from Unit 7 part 1: Building a Greek verb• To indicate person and number, -ω verbs need distinct

endings, which are as follows:

• -ω = I (1st person singular) -ομεν = we (1st person plural) • -εις = you (2nd person singular) -ετε = y’all (2nd person plural) • -ει = (s)he, it (3rd person sing) -ουσι = they (3rd person plural)

Ancient Greek for Everyone• (λαλέω ) λαλῶ – I talk.

• (λαλέεις ) λαλεῖς – You talk.

• (λαλέει ) λαλεῖ – (S)he/it talks.

• (λαλέομεν ) λαλοῦμεν – We talk.

• (λαλέετε ) λαλεῖτε – Y’all talk.

• (λαλέουσι ) λαλοῦσι – They talk.

Building a Greek VerbThe Present Indicative Active of λαλέω

Ancient Greek for Everyone• The ending –ειν signals that an -ω verb is in the infinitive. • (λαλέειν ) λαλεῖν – “talk” in the infinitive mood (mode)

• This form is the present, infinitive, active.

Ancient Greek for Everyone• From Unit 2: Placing the accent:– On most Greek words, the “recessive” rule determines the

placement of the accent. This means:– If the last syllable of the word contains a single short

vowel, the accent “recedes” two syllables: – δίδοτε – It can recede only to the last short vowel sound of this

syllable (never to the first part), so the accent appears as an acute (“/”):

– ἄνθρωπος, δώσετε (= δοόσετε)

Ancient Greek for Everyone• From Unit 2: Placing the accent:– On most Greek words, the “recessive” rule determines the

placement of the accent. This means:– If the word has only two syllables and the last syllable of

the word contains a single short vowel, the accent “recedes” to the first syllable:

– δότε– or the first part of a long vowel sound: – δῶρον (= δόορον)

Ancient Greek for Everyone• From Unit 2: Placing the accent:– On most Greek words, the “recessive” rule determines the

placement of the accent. This means:– If the last syllable of the word contains a long vowel sound,

the accent “recedes” only one syllable: – διδότω. – It can recede only to the second part of this syllable, so the

accent always appears as an acute (“/”): – παραδώσω (= παραδοόσω = παραδοόσοο)

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VOCABULARY • Α contract verb will be listed in its uncontracted form. For example: λαλέω talk

ἐρωτάω ask δηλόω show

As the principal parts indicate in the following slides, in a contract verb, normally the vowel lengthens (α and ε η, ο ω) in the future tense.

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: Classical• ἀδικέω -ήσω commit injustice • αἱρέω, -ήσω take, grasp

– ἀναιρέω raise up; kill, destroy – ἀφαιρέω take from, take away

• αἰτέω -ήσω beg, ask • βοηθέω -ήσω help• δοκέω, δόξω seem • ἐθέλω, ἐθελήσω want • εὑρίσκω, εὑρήσω find• ζητέω -ήσω seek

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: Classical• κατηγορέω -ήσω accuse • κινέω -ήσω move • κρατέω -ήσω rule over • λαλέω -ήσω talk, babble • μέλλω, μελλήσω intend, be about to• μιμνήσκω, μνήσω remind

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: Classical• οἰκέω -ήσω dwell • ὁμολογέω -ήσω agree• ποιέω -ήσω do, make • πολεμέω -ήσω make war • φοβέω -ήσω frighten • φρονέω -ήσω think • χαίρω, χαιρήσω be happy, say hello

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: NT (New Testament) • αἰτέω -ήσω beg, ask • ἀκολουθέω -ήσω follow • ἀσθενέω -ήσω be sick, be weak • βλασφημέω -ήσω blaspheme • δέω, δήσω bind • διακονέω -ήσω serve • δοκέω, δόξω seem • εὐλογέω -ήσω bless, praise • εὑρίσκω, εὑρήσω find• εὐχαριστέω -ήσω give thanks

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: NT (New Testament) • ζητέω -ήσω seek • θέλω, θελήσω want • θεωρέω -ήσω watch, observe • κατοικέω -ήσω inhabit, settle • κρατέω -ήσω rule over • λαλέω -ήσω talk• μαρτυρέω -ήσω witness • μέλλω, μελλήσω intend, be about to• μετανοέω -ήσω repent • μισέω -ήσω hate

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: NT (New Testament) • οἰκοδομέω -ήσω build • περιπατέω -ήσω walk, live • ποιέω -ήσω do, make • προσκυνέω -ήσω worship• τηρέω -ήσω guard • φωνέω -ήσω call out, summon • χαίρω, χαιρήσω rejoice

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Contract Verbs• The next most common type of contraction in verbs involves -α,

where the contractions are: – α + ω ω – α + ει ᾳ – α + ο ω – α + ε ᾱ– α + ου ω

Ancient Greek for Everyone• (ἐρωτάω ) ἐρωτῶ – I ask.

• (ἐρωτάεις ) ἐρωτᾷς – You ask.

• (ἐρωτάει ) ἐρωτᾷ – (S)he/it asks.

• (ἐρωτάομεν ) ἐρωτῶμεν – We ask.

• (ἐρωτάετε ) ἐρωτᾶτε – Y’all ask.

• (ἐρωτάουσι ) ἐρωτῶσι – They ask.

Building a Greek VerbThe Present Indicative Active of ἐρωτάω

Ancient Greek for Everyone• The ending –ειν signals that an -ω verb is in the infinitive. • (ἐρωτάειν ) ἐρωτᾶν – “ask” in the infinitive mood (mode)

• This form is the present, infinitive, active.

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: Classical• δράω, δράσω do • ἐάω, ἐάσω allow • ἐρωτάω -ήσω ask • ζάω, ζήσω live • νικάω -ήσω conquer, defeat • ὁρμάω -ήσω urge, hurry • πειράω, πειράσω try, attempt• τελευτάω -άσω finish, die • τιμάω -ήσω honor • τολμάω -ήσω dare

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: NT (New Testament) • ἀγαπάω -ήσω love • γεννάω -ήσω give birth to• ἐρωτάω -ήσω ask

• ἐπερωτάω ask for • ζάω, ζήσω live • πλανάω -ήσω mislead

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Contract Verbs• The least common type of contraction in verbs involves -ο, where the contractions are: – ο + ω ω – ο + ει οι – ο + ο ου – ο + ε ου – ο + ου ου

Ancient Greek for Everyone• (δηλόω ) δηλῶ – I show.

• (δηλόεις ) δηλοῖς – You show.

• (δηλόει ) δηλοῖ – (S)he/it shows.

• (δηλόομεν ) δηλοῦμεν – We show.

• (δηλόετε ) δηλοῦτε – Y’all show.

• (δηλόουσι ) δηλοῦσι – They show.

Building a Greek VerbThe Present Indicative Active of δηλόω

Ancient Greek for Everyone• The ending –ειν signals that an -ω verb is in the infinitive. • (δηλόειν ) δηλοῦν – “show” in the infinitive mood (mode)

• This form is the present, infinitive, active.

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: Classical• ἀξιόω -ώσω consider worthy, valuable • δηλόω -ώσω show

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: NT (New Testament) • δηλόω -ώσω show• δικαιόω -ώσω justify • πληρόω -ώσω show, fulfill • σταυρόω -ώσω crucify • φανερόω -ώσω reveal

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Contract Futures• Recall that Greek verbs add –σ to their stems to form

the future tense. • Some verbs have stems that end in a liquid (-λ, -ν, -ρ)

and Greek does not allow a liquid + –σ.• In these cases, the –σ degrades to an -ε, which contracts

just as it does in present contract verbs. • In a vocabulary entry, the future is listed in its

contracted form.

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: Classical• ἀγγέλλω, ἀγγελῶ report, tell • αἴρω, ἀρῶ raise • ἀποκτείνω, -κτενῶ kill • ἀπόλλυμι, ἀπολῶ kill, destroy • βάλλω, βαλῶ throw • διαφθείρω, -φθερῶ destroy • κρίνω, κρινῶ judge, decide, determine• μένω, μενῶ remain, stay • τέμνω, τεμῶ cut • φαίνω, φανῶ make appear

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: ClassicalA few other verbs also have contract futures. • ἐλαύνω, ἐλῶ march

– This future is an -α contract. • καλέω, καλῶ call • κομίζω, κομιῶ provide for • λέγω, ἐρῶ say, tell

– Classical Greek uses both ἐρῶ and λέξω (see Unit 7.3) as the future of λέγω.

• νομίζω, νομιῶ believe

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: NT (New Testament) • αἴρω, ἀρῶ raise • ἀπαγγέλλω -αγγελῶ report, tell

– παραγγέλλω command, order • ἀποκτείνω, -κτενῶ kill • ἀπόλλυμι, ἀπολῶ kill, destroy • ἀποστέλλω, -στελῶ send away • βάλλω, βαλῶ throw

– ἐκβάλλω throw

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: NT (New Testament) • ἐγείρω, ἐγερῶ raise up• κρίνω, κρινῶ judge, decide, determine• μένω, μενῶ remain, stay • σπείρω, σπερῶ sow• φαίνω, φανῶ make appear

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Unit 7 Vocabulary: NT (New Testament) A few other verbs also have contract futures. • ἐγγίζω, ἐγγιῶ come near • ἐλπίζω, ἐλπιῶ hope for • ἐυαγγελίζω, ἐυαγγελιῶ bring good news, preach • καθαρίζω, καθαριῶ cleanse• καλέω καλῶ call

– παρακαλέω beg, encourage• λέγω, ἐρῶ say, tell

– Biblical Greek uses only ἐρῶ (never λέξω) as the future of λέγω.

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Unit 7 part 4 Vocabulary: Core• ἀγγέλλω, ἀγγελῶ report, tell • αἴρω, ἀρῶ raise • αἰτέω -ήσω beg, ask • ἀποκτείνω, -κτενῶ kill • ἀπόλλυμι, ἀπολῶ kill, destroy • βάλλω, βαλῶ throw • δηλόω -ώσω show• δοκέω, δόξω seem

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Unit 7 part 4 Vocabulary: Core• (ἐ)θέλω, ἐθελήσω want • ἐρωτάω -ήσω ask • εὑρίσκω, εὑρήσω find• ζάω, ζήσω live • ζητέω -ήσω seek • καλέω καλῶ call • κρατέω -ήσω rule over • κρίνω, κρινῶ judge, decide, determine

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Unit 7 part 4 Vocabulary: Core• λαλέω -ήσω talk, babble • λέγω, ἐρῶ say, tell • μέλλω, μελλήσω intend, be about to• μένω, μενῶ remain, stay • ποιέω -ήσω do, make • φαίνω, φανῶ make appear• χαίρω, χαιρήσω be happy, say hello