15.1 So far, we have only seen verbs in the PRESENT TENSE. This lesson introduces the FUTURE TENSE. As with the present tense, we begin building a Greek verb by starting with the VERB STEM, which tells us the action that the verb describes:
- λυ– loosen, destroy
- δεικ– show
15.2 The stem needs a marker that says the verb is in the future tense. The future tense marker for all verbs is –σ-. So now the stem looks (and sounds) like this:
- λυ + σ = λυσ– will loosen (future tense stem)
- δεικ + σ = δειξ– will show (future tense stem)
Remember that Greek has two distinct sets of inflectional endings:
- –μι verbs (athematic)
- –ω verbs (thematic)
ALL VERBS, regardless of whether they are thematic or athematic in the present tense, use THEMATIC (-ω verb) endings in the future tense. In other words, while δείκνυμι, for example, is a –μι verb in the present active, it uses the same thematic personal endings in the future active that a verb like λύω does.
15.3 Putting it all together, the Future Indicative Active of λύω is as follows (S 383):
15.4 The Future Indicative Active of δείκνυμι is as follows:
