Book Nav

392. In many verbs otherwise active the future active is wanting and the future middle has the active meaning. Especially common are

ἀκούω, ἀκούσομαι hear

μανθάνω, μαθήσομαι learn

ἁμαρτάνω, ἁμαρτήσομαι fail

οἶδα, εἴσομαι know

ἀπο-θνῄσκω, ἀποθανοῦμαι die

ὄμνῡμι, ὀμοῦμαι swear

βαδίζω, βαδιοῦμαι walk

ὁράω, ὄψομαι see

γιγνώσκω, γνώσομαι recognize

πάσχω, πείσομαι suffer

διώκω, διώξομαι pursue

πῑ́πτω, πεσοῦμαι fall

εἶμι, ἔσομαι am, be, etc.

πλέω, πλεύσομαι sail

ἐπαινέω, ἐπαινέσομαι praise

τρέχω, δραμοῦμαι run

κάμνω, καμοῦμαι am weary

τυγχάνω, τεύξομαι happen

λαγχάνω, λήξομαι get by lot or fate

φεύγω, φεύξομαι flee

λαμβάνω, λήψομαι take

 

393. The future middle of some verbs has the passive meaning; among the more common are

ἀδικήσομαι shall be wronged

ὠφελήσομαι shall be benefited

αὐξήσομαι shall be increased

ταράξομαι shall be disturbed

οἰκήσομαι shall be administered

θρέψομαι shall be nurtured

πολιορκήσομαι shall be besieged

φυλάξομαι shall be guarded

a. Some others have in the passive sense both middle and passive forms:

ζημιώσομαι and ζημιωθήσομαι shall be damaged

ἀπο-στερήσομαι and -στερηθήσομαι shall be deprived

τῖμήσομαι and τῖμηθήσομαι shall be honored

394. Of deponent verbs (middle or passive in form but active in meaning; cp. § 501) some have in the aorist tense middle forms (middle deponents), others passive forms (passive deponents). Among middle deponents many have also the passive aorist with passive meaning, as αἰτιάομαι (accuse), ᾐτιᾱσάμην (accused), ᾐτιᾱ́θην (was accused). So also

δέχομαι accept

λῡμαίνομαι injure

δωρέομαι present

μέμφομαι blame

ἐργάζομαι work

μῑμέομαι imitate

ἀποκρῑ́νομαι answer

μεταπέμπομαι send for

λογίζομαι reckon

ἐντέλλομαι enjoin upon

395. Most passive deponents have in the future the middle forms.

βούλομαι wish

βουλήσομαι, ἐβουλήθην

δέομαι want, ask

δεήσομαι, ἐδεήθην

δύναμαι can

δυνήσομαι, ἐδυνήθην

οἴομαι think

οἰήσομαι, ᾠήθην

a. But some passive deponents have in the future both middle and passive forms.

αἰδέομαι respect

αἰδέσομαι and αἰδεσθήσομαι

διαλέγομαι converse

διαλέξομαι and διαλεχθήσομαι

b. The following have only passive forms in both aorist and future.

ἔραμαι love

ἠράσθην, ἐρασθήσομαι

ἥδομαι am pleased

ἥσθην, ἡσθήσομαι

ἡττάομαι am worsted

ἡττήθην, ἡττηθήσομαι

396. The perfect of some deponents has both active and passive meanings.

εἴργασται he has worked or it has been worked

ἐώνημαι I have bought or have been bought

Suggested Citation

Meagan Ayer, ed. Goodell’s School Grammar of Attic Greek. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2018. ISBN: 978-1-947822-10-8.https://dcc.dickinson.edu/el/grammar/goodell/middle-and-passive-forms-peculiar-meaning