1.34: εἰμί and εἶμι
The Verb
In Greek and in English verbs have the same definition and functions. Verbs are words that represent actions ( throw ) and states of being ( be or exist ). They differ in the same fundamental way that Greek nouns differ from their English counterparts: they use endings to create meaning in a way that English does not. The Greek verb ( ῥῆμα ) in its finite form has an ending that indicates what person and number the subject is. The Greek infinitive has an ending that indicates that it is unmarked for person and number .
The Verbs εἰμί and εἶμι
The verbs εἰμί and εἶμι are μι-verbs , occur frequently, and are irregular in all languages. Memorize the forms below. As you memorize them, note the similarities and differences between them.
Present Indicative Active of εἰμί
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| εἰμί | I am | 1 st person singular |
| εἶ, εἶς | you are | 2 nd person singular |
| ἐστί (ν) | he, she, it is; there is | 3 rd person singular |
| ἐσμέν | we are | 1 st person plural |
| ἐστέ | you are | 2 nd person plural |
| εἰσί (ν) | they are; there are | 3 rd person plural |
Imperfect Indicative Active of εἰμί
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἦν, ἦ | I was | 1 st person singular |
| ἦσθα | you were | 2 nd person singular |
| ἦν | he, she, it was; there was | 3 rd person singular |
| ἦμεν | we were | 1 st person plural |
| ἦτε | you were | 2 nd person plural |
| ἦσαν | they were; there were | 3 rd person plural |
- All forms of the present indicative active are enclitic except for εἶ you are and the infinitive, εἶναι to be.
- ἔστι (ν) with its accent on the penult is not enclitic; it often means it is possible, it is allowed with its meaning completed by a complementary infinitive; if it means is the accent on the penult stresses the existence of the subject.
Present Infinitive Active of εἰμί
εἶναι to be unmarked
Present Indicative Active of εἶμι
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| εἶμι | I go | 1 st person singular |
| εἶ | you go | 2 nd person singular |
| εἶσι (ν) | he, she, it goes | 3 rd person singular |
| ἴμεν | we go | 1 st person plural |
| ἴτε | you go | 2 nd person plural |
| ἴᾱσι (ν) | they go | 3 rd person plural |
Imperfect Indicative Active of εἶμι
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ᾖα, ᾔειν | I was going | 1 st person singular |
| ᾔεις, ᾔεισθα | you were going | 2 nd person singular |
| ᾔει, ᾔειν | he, she, it was going | 3 rd person singular |
| ᾖμεν | we were going | 1 st person plural |
| ᾖτε | you were going | 2 nd person plural |
| ᾖσαν, ᾔεσαν | they were going | 3 rd person plural |
Present Infinitive Active of εἶμι
ἰέναι to be unmarked
Present Participles of εἰμί and εἶμι
ὤν, οὖσα, ὄν being
| M | F | N | M | F | N | ||
| N | ὤν | οὖσα | ὄν | N | ὄντες | οὖσαι | ὄντα |
| A | ὄντα | οὖσαν | ὄν | A | ὄντας | οὔσᾱς | ὄντα |
| G | ὄντος | οὔσης | ὄντος | G | ὄντων | οὐσῶν | ὄντων |
| D | ὄντι | οὔσῃ | ὄντι | D | οὖσι (ν) | οὔσαις | οὖσι (ν) |
| V | ὤν | οὖσα | ὄν | V | ὄντες | οὖσαι | ὄντα |
| M | F | N | M | F | N | ||
| N | ὤν | οὖσα | ὄν | N | ὄντες | οὖσαι | ὄντα |
| G | ὄντος | οὔσης | ὄντος | G | ὄντων | οὐσῶν | ὄντων |
| D | ὄντι | οὔσῃ | ὄντι | D | οὖσι (ν) | οὔσαις | οὖσι (ν) |
| A | ὄντα | οὖσαν | ὄν | A | ὄντας | οὔσᾱς | ὄντα |
| V | ὤν | οὖσα | ὄν | V | ὄντες | οὖσαι | ὄντα |
- Remember that the participle is an adjective and must agree with the noun it modifies in gender, case, and number. If no noun is present, supply one from the gender and number of the participle or from context.
- The participle is presented in full in part II of this 21st-Century series.
ἰών, ἰοῦσα, ἰόν coming, going
| M | F | N | M | F | N | ||
| N | ἰών | ἰοῦσα | ἰόν | N | ἰόντες | ἰοῦσαι | ἰόντα |
| A | ἰόντα | ἰοῦσαν | ἰόν | A | ἰόντας | ἰούσᾱς | ἰόντα |
| G | ἰόντος | ἰούσης | ἰόντος | G | ἰόντων | ἰουσῶν | ἰόντων |
| D | ἰόντι | ἰούσῃ | ἰόντι | D | ἰοῦσι (ν) | ἰούσαις | ἰοῦσι (ν) |
| V | ἰών | ἰοῦσα | ἰόν | V | ἰόντες | ἰοῦσαι | ἰόντα |
| M | F | N | M | F | N | ||
| N | ἰών | ἰοῦσα | ἰόν | N | ἰόντες | ἰοῦσαι | ἰόντα |
| A | ἰόντος | ἰούσης | ἰόντος | A | ἰόντων | ἰουσῶν | ἰόντων |
| G | ἰόντι | ἰούσῃ | ἰόντι | G | ἰοῦσι (ν) | ἰούσαις | ἰοῦσι (ν) |
| D | ἰόντα | ἰοῦσαν | ἰόν | D | ἰόντας | ἰούσᾱς | ἰόντα |
| V | ἰών | ἰοῦσα | ἰόν | V | ἰόντες | ἰοῦσαι | ἰόντα |
- Remember that the participle is an adjective and must agree with the noun it modifies in gender, case, and number. If no noun is present, supply one from the gender and number of the participle or from context.
- The participle is presented in full in Part II of the 21st-Century series.
Practice Translating εἰμί and εἶμι. Translate the sentences below, which have been adapted from a variety of ancient Greek writers. Remember the meanings and functions of the cases presented in Module 7. Check your understanding with the translations in the Answer Key, making sure that you understand why each word translates as it does. Now go back and read each sentence two or three times, noticing with each rereading how much better your understanding of the sentence becomes. Make this a habit and you will improve quickly.
- ἔξεστι σῶσαί σε χρήμαθ’ οἷς συνεξῇεις καὶ ἅ σοι ἔδωκα (Euripides, Hekabe);
- οὖν τι βούλῃ περὶ τῶν ἐκεῖ φράζειν ἐμοὶ ἢ ἄπειμι (Euripides, Hekabe);
- ἡ δὲ λέγει· Γιγνώσκεις οὖν Ἀθήνης ἵνα στέγαι εἰσίν (Euripides, Hekabe); Module 28 | εἰμί and εἶμι 425
- ὁ δὲ λέγει· Μέλαινα πέτρα γῆς ἥ σοι σημανεῖ ἵνα στέγαι εἰσίν (Euripides, Hekabe).
- ὅτε ἦν ὁ καιρὸς τῷ στρατηγῷ, ἠθέλησε εἰρήνην ἄγειν καὶ μὴ λῦσαι.
- κατ’ ἐμὲ μὲν̣ γὰρ τοῦτο τὸ νίκημα ταῖς γυναιξὶν ἦν. οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἄνδρες ἡττάοντο.
- τότε δὲ Καμβύσης, ἐπεὶ ἦν οὐχ ὕδωρ αὐτῷ ἕτοιμον, ἀγγέλους παρὰ τὸν Ἀράβιον ἐπέμψε (Herodotos).
- πρόσεισι καὶ κηρύσσει Κρέων τούτῳ, ὃς τὸ τῆς Σφιγγὸς αἴνιγμα λύσει, καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν καὶ τὴν Λαΐου δώσειν γυναῖκα (Bibliotheca).
- τῆς σοφίας τοσαύτης ἐσμὲν ὥστε τρόποισιν οὐ τυραννικοῖς ἀλλὰ τρόπῳ φρενὸς αὐτοὺς ποιεῖν τὰ καλὰ πείθειν.
- ὁ γεωργὸς πρὸς τὴν παῖδα ἔφη τῇ Σφιγγὶ πρόσωπον μὲν γυναικός, στῆθος δὲ καὶ πόδας καὶ οὐρὰν λέοντος καὶ πτέρυγας ὄρνιθος εἶναι.
Vocabulary
| ἄγγελος, ἄγγελου ὁ messenger | λύω (ῡ), λύσω, ἔλῡσα loose, free, destroy; solve; (mid.) ransom |
| *ἄγω, ἄξω, ἤγαγον do, drive, lead; | χάριν ἄγω I give thanks |
| μέλας, μέλαινα, μέλαν black, dark | Ἀθήνη, Ἀθήνης ἡ Athene, goddess of crafts and wisdom |
| νίκημα, νικήματος τό victory | αἴνιγμα, αἰνίγματος τό riddle ὄρνις, ὄρνιθος ἡ, ὁ bird, bird of omen |
| *ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός ὁ man, husband | οὐρά, οὐρᾶς ἡ the hinder parts, after part; tail; κατ’ οὐράν in rear, behind |
| ἄπειμι go away, depart | *παῖς, παιδός ἡ ὁ child |
| Ἀράβιος, Ἀραβία, Ἀράβιον Arabian | *πείθω, πείσω, ἔπεισα persuade + inf.; (mid. or pass.) listen to, obey + dat. or gen. |
| βασιλεία, βασιλείας ἡ kingdom, kingship, reign | πέτρα, πέτρας ἡ rock |
| *βούλομαι, βουλήσομαι want, prefer; wish, be willing want, wish, be willing | *ποιέω, ποιήσω, ἐποίησα do, make, cause; (mid.) consider |
| γεωργός, γεωργοῦ ὁ farmer (George) | πούς, ποδός ὁ foot; κατὰ πόδας on the heels |
| *γῆ, γῆς ἡ land, earth | πρόσειμι go in, enter, approach |
| *γιγνώσκω, γνώσομαι, ἔγνων, know, recognize; decide + inf. | πρόσωπον, προσώπου τό face |
| *γυνή, γυναικός ἡ woman, wife | πτέρυξ, πτέρυγος ἡ wing |
| *δίδωμι, δώσω, ἔδωκα give; allow ‘x’ in dat. or acc. + inf., ἐμὲ (έμοί) | εὐτυχέειν δίδως you allow me to prosper |
| σημαίνω, σημανέω, ἐσήμηνα point out, show | *ἐθέλω (θέλω), ἐθελήσω (θελήσω), ἠθέλησα wish, be willing |
| σοφία, σοφίας ἡ wisdom | εἰρήνη, εἰρήνης ἡ peace |
| στέγη, στέγης ἡ roof | ἐκεῖ there στῆθος, στήθους (-εος) τό chest, breast |
| ἑτοῖμος, ἑτοίμη, ἑτοῖμον at hand, ready, prepared, able + inf. | *στρατηγός, στρατηγοῦ ὁ general |
| *ἔφη he, she, it said | συνέξειμι go out with, depart with |
| ἡττάομαι be less or inferior; be defeated | Σφίγξ, Σφιγγός ἡ Sphinx |
| *καιρός, καιροῦ ὁ right moment, critical time, opportunity | σῴζω, σώσω, ἔσωσα save, keep |
| *καλός, καλή, καλόν beautiful, noble, good | *τοσοῦτος, τοσαύτη, τοσοῦτο so much, so many |
| Καμβύσης, Καμβύσου (-εω) ὁ Kambyses, son of Kyros the Great | *τρόπος, τρόπου ὁ way, manner, turn; (pl.) character |
| κηρύττω be a herald; make a proclamation | τυραννικός, τυραννική, τυραννικόν of a tyrant, despotic, imperious |
| κράτιστος, κρατίστη, κράτιστον strongest, best | ὕδωρ, ὕδατος τό water |
| Κρέων, Κρέοντος ὁ Kreon, king of Thebes | φράζω, φράσω, ἔφρασα tell, show; advise; suppose, believe |
| Λάϊος, Λαΐου ὁ Laïos , king of Thebes | φρήν, φρενός ἡ midriff, heart, mind; intellect, understanding, reason |
| *λέγω, λέξω or ἐρέω, ἔλεξα or εἶπον say , tell, speak | *χρῆμα, χρήματος τό thing; (pl.) goods, money, property |
| λέων, λέοντος ὁ lion |
- The asterisk indicates the top 250 most frequently occurring vocabulary, which you are to memorize.
Practice Translating. Translate the below, adapted from Lucian’s The Lover of Lies (Φιλοψευδής). Remember the meanings and functions of the cases presented in Module 7. Use your memory to identify endings and their functions. If you forget an ending or a function, consult the Adjective, Adverb, Noun, and Pronoun Chart in Appendix VIII and the Case and Function Chart in Appendix I. Check your understanding with the translations in the Answer Key, making sure that you understand why each word translates as it does. Now go back and read each sentence two or three times, noticing with each rereading how much better your understanding of the sentence becomes. Make this a habit and you will improve quickly.
Εὐκράτης:
ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ διῆγον ἔτι νέος ὤν—ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐπὶ παιδείας προφάσει ἀπεστελλόμην—τὸν Νεῖλον εἰς Κοπτὸν ἀναπλεύσας, ἐκεῖθεν ἐπὶ τὸν Μέμνονα ἦλθον. ἐπεθύμησα ἀκοῦσαι τὸ θαυμαστὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖνο ἠχέον πρὸς ἀνέχοντα τὸν ἥλιον. ἐκείνου μὲν οὖν ἤκουσα οὐ κατὰ ἄσημον φωνήν, τὸ κοινὸν τοῖς πολλοῖς. ἀλλά μοι καὶ ἔχρησεν
ὁ Μέμνων αὐτὸς ἀνοίξας γε τὸ στόμα ἐν ἔπεσιν ἑπτά. καὶ δύναμαι, εἴ γε βούλομαι, ἐκβολὴν τοῦ λόγου ποιεῖσθαι καὶ εἰπεῖν αὐτὰ ὑμῖν τὰ ἔπη. ἀλλὰ οὐκ ἐθέλω. κατὰ δὲ τὸν ἀνάπλουν ἡμῖν συνέπλεε Μεμφίτης ἀνὴρ τῶν ἱερεῶν γραμματέων. ὁ δὲ θαυμάσιος τὴν σοφίαν καὶ τὴν παιδείαν, πᾶσαν εἰδὼς τὴν Αἰγύπτιον. ἐλέγετο δὲ τρία καὶ εἴκοσιν ἔτη ἐν τοῖς ἀδύτοις ὑπόγειος οἰκέειν, μαγεύειν παιδευόμενος ὑπὸ τῆς Ἴσιδος.
Ἀρίγνωτος: Παγκράτην λέγεις, ἐμὸν διδάσκαλον, ἄνδρα ἱερόν, ἐξυρημένον, ἐν ὀθονίοις, ἀεὶ νοήμονα, ἐπιμήκη, σιμόν, πρόχειλον, ὑπόλεπτον τὰ σκέλη ἀλλὰ ὁ δὲ οὐ καθαρῶς ἑλληνίζει.
Εὐκράτης: αὐτόν, ἐκεῖνον τὸν Παγκράτην. καὶ τοῦτον τὰ μὲν πρῶτα ἠγνόεον ἀλλὰ ἐπεὶ ὁρμίζομεν τὸ πλοῖον, ἑώραον αὐτὸν πολλὰ τεράστια ἐργαζόμενον· καὶ δὴ καὶ ἐπὶ κροκοδείλων ὀχέεται καὶ συννέει τοῖς θηρίοις. τὰ δὲ θηρία ὑποπτήσσει καὶ σαίνει ταῖς οὐραῖς. γιγνώσκω αὐτόν· ὁ δὲ γὰρ ἱερός τις ἄνθρωπος.
Adverbs and Verbs
| ἀγνοέω not perceive, not recognize | *λέγω, λέξω or ἐρέω, ἔλεξα or εἶπον say, tell, speak |
| *ἀκούω, ἀκούσομαι, ἤκουσα hear, hear of or about, listen, heed + gen. or acc. of thing or gen. of person | μαγεύω be a Magus; bewitch 428 Ancient Greek I |
| ἀποστέλλω, ἀποστελέω, ἀπέστειλα send off, dispatch; putt off, doff; (intrans.) retire, withdraw | οἰκέω, οἰκήσω, ᾤκησα inhabit, settle; manage, dwell, live |
| *βούλομαι, βουλήσομαι want, prefer; wish, be willing | *ὁράω (ἑώραον), ὄψομαι, εἶδον see |
| *γιγνώσκω, γνώσομαι, ἔγνων know, recognize; decide + inf. | ὁρμίζω moor, anchor |
| διάγω, -άξω, -ήγαγον carry over; (intrans.) cross over; pass; (intrans.) live | ὀχέω uphold, endure; carry; drive, ride |
| *δύναμαι, δυνήσομαι be able, be strong enough + inf. | *ποιέω, ποιήσω, ἐποίησα do, make, cause; (mid.) consider |
| *ἐθέλω (θέλω), ἐθελήσω (θελήσω), ἠθέλησα wish, be willing | σαίνω wag, fawn |
| *εἰπεῖν > λέγω | συμπλέω sail with |
| ἐκεῖθεν from that place, thence; on his part | συννέω swim together, swim with |
| ἑλληνίζω speak Greek | ὑποπτήσσω crouch, cower |
| ἐπιθυμέω set one’s heart upon, be eager for, desire + gen. | χράω, χρήσω, ἔχρησα proclaim, announce; furnish, lend |
| *ἔρχομαι, ἐλεύσομαι, ἦλθον come, go |
Adjectives, Nouns, Pronouns
| ἄδυτος ἄδυτον not to be entered; never setting; (subst.) sanctuary, shrine | καθαρῶς clearly, purely |
| Αἰγύπτιος, Αἰγυπτία, Αἰγύπτιον Egyptian | *κοινός, κοινή, κοινόν shared, common |
| Αἴγυπτος, Αἰγύπτου ἡ Egypt | Κοπτός, Κοπτοῦ ἡ Koptos, a city on the Nile 43 kilometers north of Luxor |
| ἀναπλεύσας, ἀναπλεύσαντος ὁ sailing | κροκόδειλος, κροκοδείλου ὁ crocodile, lizard |
| ἀνάπλοος (ἀνάπλους), ἀναπλόου (ἀναπλοῦ) ὁ sailing up | *λόγος, λόγου ὁ word, speech, story; reason, account |
| ἀνέχων, ἀνέχοντος ὁ holding up; rising up | Μέμνων, Μέμνονος ὁ Memnon, one of two colossi of Memnon, depicting Pharaoh Amenhotep III and located west of Luxor |
| *ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός ὁ man, husband | Μεμφίτης, Μεμφίτου ὁ from Memphis |
| *ἄνθρωπος, ἀνθρώπου ἡ ὁ human, person | Νεῖλος, Νείλου ὁ Nile |
| ἀνοίξᾱς, ἀνοίξαντος ὁ opening | *νέος, νέᾱ, νέον new, fresh, young; strange, unexpected |
| ἄσημος, ἄσημον without mark; unintelligible | νοήμων, νοήμον thoughtful, sensible |
| βλέπω, βλέψομαι look at, see | ὀθόνιον, ὀθονίου τό linen cloth, sail-cloth |
| γραμματεύς, γραμματέως ὁ secretary, clerk; recorder; scholar | οὐρά, οὐρᾶς ἡ the hinder parts, after part; tail; κατ’ οὐράν in rear, behind |
| διδάσκαλος, διδασκάλου ὁ teacher, master, trainer | Παγκράτης, Παγκράτου ὁ Pankrates |
| εἰδώς, εἰδότος ὁ knowing | παιδεία, παιδείας ἡ education, training, culture |
| εἴκοσιν twenty | παιδευόμενος, παιδευομένου ὁ being taught |
| ἐκβολή, ἐκβολῆς ἡ thowing out; expulsion; by-way; digression | *πατήρ, πατρός ὁ father |
| *ἐμός, ἐμή, ἐμόν my | πλοῖον, πλοίου τό ship |
| ἐξυρημένος, ἐξυρημένη, ἐξυρημένον shaved | πρόφασις, προφάσεως (-ιος) ἡ pretext, excuse, cause, reason |
| ἐπιμήκες, ἐπιμήκης long, oblong | πρόχειλος, πρόχειλον with prominent lips |
| ἔπος, ἔπεος (-ους) τό word, speech; song; saying; verse | *πρῶτος, πρώτη, πρῶτον first, for the present, just now |
| ἑπτά seven | σιμός, σιμή, σιμόν snub-nosed, flat-nosed |
| ἐργαζόμενος, ἐργαζομένου ὁ doing, accomplishing | σκέλος, -ους (-εος) τό the leg |
| *ἔτος, ἔτεος (ἔτους) τό year | σοφία, σοφίας ἡ wisdom, skill; cleverness |
| ἥλιος, ἡλίου ὁ sun | στόμα, στόματος τό mouth |
| ἠχέον, ἠχέοντος τό sounding, ringing | τεράστιος, τεράστιον monstrous, prodigious |
| θαυμάσιος, θαυμασίᾱ, θαυμάσιον wonderful, marvelous, admirable | *τρεῖς, οἱ or αἱ; τρία τά three |
| θαυμαστός, θαυμαστή, θαυμαστόν wonderful, marvelous, admirable | ὑπόγειος, ὑπόγειον under the earth, underground, subterraneous |
| θηρίον, θηρίου τό wild animal, beast | ὑπόλεπτος, ὑπόλεπτον thinnish |
| ἱερεύς, ἱερέως ὁ priest, sacrifice, diviner | φωνή, φωνῆς ἡ sound; voice; tone |
| *ἱερός, ἱερά, ἱερόν holy; (n. in sg.) temple; (n. in pl.) sacrifices | *ὤν, ὄντος ὁ being |
| Ἶσις, Ἴσιδος or Ἴσιος ἡ Egyptian deity similar in function to Demeter |
- The asterisk indicates the top 250 most frequently occurring vocabulary, which you are to memorize.
Practice Parsing Greek Sentences. Parse each word of the sentences found below. For nouns and pronouns, give their case and function. For verbs, give their person, number, tense, mood, and voice. For adverbs and conjunctions, identify them. For prepositional phrases, give the preposition and the preposition’s object. For adjectives, tell what noun they agree with in gender, number, and case.
ὁ πόλεμος καὶ δυστυχία τὰς ὀργὰς τῶν βροτῶν τὰς αὐτὰς ταῖς συντυχίαις καθιστᾶσιν.
τὸν Νεῖλον εἰς Κοπτὸν ἀναπλεύσας ἐκεῖθεν ἐπὶ τὸν Μέμνονα ἦλθον.
Check your answers with those in the Answer Key.
Diogenes the Cynic of Sinope (Διογένης ὁ Κυνικός, Σινώπη c. 412–323 BCE). Diogenes was born in Sinope, an Ionian Greek colony on the shores of the Black Sea. The adjective κυνικός means dog-like. Greek philosophers tended to separate the world into nature (φύσις) and custom (νόμος). Customs vary from society to society. Α look to nature is done as a means for determining primordial absolutes which can serve as a guide to understanding humankind, the universe, and the proper way to live. This quest for the primordial continues today as we look to DNA and quantum physics to understand who we are and how to live. Diogenes looked at the dog. He saw humans in pursuit of the artificial in their quest for empire, glory, honor, status, and wealth. Rather he thought we should study the dog who defecates and fornicates openly and without shame. Dogs live in the moment and are able to detect friend from foe. When Alexander the Great approached Diogenes and asked him if there was a request he could fulfill for him, Diogenes asked if he could please move because he was blocking the sun’s light and warmth from him. In his quest for the primordial Diogenes is one of a long list of thinkers who have pursued a life dedicated to the art of living well.
Module 28 Top 250 Vocabulary to be Memorized. Like learning the alphabet and endings, memorizing vocabulary is essential to acquiring language. The better you memorize the top 250 most frequently occurring vocabulary words the greater mastery of the language you will have.
Adjectives
ἐναντίος, ἐναντίᾱ, ἐναντίον opposite + gen. or dat.
ὀρθός, ὀρθή, ὀρθόν straight, correct, proper
τοσοῦτος, τοσαύτη, τοσοῦτο so much, so many
ὕστερος, ὑστέρᾱ, ὕστερον after, later
Verbs
παρέχω (ἔχω, ἕξω or σχήσω, ἔσχον, ἔσχηκα, -ἔσχημαι, ------) furnish, hand over; supply; cause; allow, grant; be allowed, παρέχει it is allowed
σκοπέω, σκοπήσω, ἐσκόπησα, ------, ἐσκόπημαι or ἔσκεμμαι, ------ look at;examine; consider, contemplate
συμβαίνω (βαίνω, βήσομαι, ἔβην, βέβηκα, βέβαμαι, ἐβάθην) stand with feet together; come together; come to an agreement, come to terms; meet + dat.; (impers.) come to pass, happen
τίθημι, θήσω, ἔθηκα, τέθηκα, τέθειμαι, ἐτέθην put, place; make, cause
ὑπάρχω (ἄρχω, ἄρξω, ἦρξα, ἦρχα, ἦργμαι, ἤρχθην) be; be sufficient; begin + gen.; (impers.) be allowed, be possible
Etymology Corner XXVIII by Dr. E. Del Chrol
Technical Terms 24, Parts of Speech
Adjectives, Modules 11, 12, 14, 18, 20, 26, 27. The term adjective (ὄνομα) is well known, but Greek will help give you greater nuance in your understanding of them beyond knowing them as words that describe nouns and pronouns. Earlier we met adverbs, little words that go towards the verb. Adjectives go towards (ad) nouns and pronouns, but the motion is more violent. They are thrown (iacere) against their nouns!
- Adjectives agree with their nouns in gender, number, and case. This harmonious arrangement is pleasing (gratus). By the way, what is it called when the endings on the noun and the endings on the adjective are identical? Coincidence! Pay attention to the forms, not how alike they look.
- Think about your joints, especially around your knuckles. These little points of articulation are the root of your dexterity, allowing you to grasp, hold and manipulate objects. Articles like a, an or the let you do that same work to words in your sentence, which is why they take their name from the Latin little (-culus) joint/knuckle (artus—compare with the Greek ἄρθρον like in arthritis, a malady of the joints). Αrticles are an important subcategory of adjectives, and like adjectives, articles will agree in gender, number, and
- case with the word they are modifying.
- The etymologies for the type of articles, definite and indefinite, you can probably figure out already from other terms we’ve done so far. If you recall finite and infinitive verbs, you will also recall that finis in Latin is a limit, and that in can mean not. In this way, the definite article the limits a noun, whereas the indefinite article a or an does not.
- You can be fast, you can be furious, but without an article you can’t be that subset of people The Fast and the Furious. Movies may be insubstantial but it doesn’t mean they lack substantive adjectives, that is, a definite article + adjective combination. Substantive adjectives (Module 12) are so called because they aren’t just abstract qualities, but have some concrete substance, coming from two Latin roots that we should be familiar with by now, sub, under, and stare, to stand. Substantives can stand on their own without a noun.
What to Study and Do 28.
Before moving on to the next module, make sure that you have memorized the forms of
εἰμί
and
εἶμι
and that you understand how to translate
and identify each form. From this point on their forms will not be glossed.
Learning Tip 28: Deep Learning and Thinking. Deep (creative) learning of a conceptual system is not easily forgotten. Our education system tends to teach information but not deep (creative) thinking. Teaching deep thinking is difficult. It involves a level of difficulty similar to that involved in producing a master work of art or a new scientific theory. Though difficult, orienting the way we teach and learn towards a deep thinking approach is a qualitatively superior method. As we learn the fundamentals of a subject (the old known information), we do so from the standpoint of learning how to produce new ways of knowing. As you master the information required to learn this ancient language, do so with an eye on developing a conceptual understanding of language. This conceptual awareness will assist you in developing a deep thinking approach to learning any subject.