The Ω-Conjugation Aorist System: Vowel Verbs, Not Contracting

Book Nav

279. This includes an indicative, subjunctive, optative, imperative, with infinitive and participle, active and middle. (For the passive see §§ 302309.)

280. The aorist stem is formed by adding to the verb-stem the suffix -σα:ε-, which becomes -σω:η- in the subjunctive (sigmatic or σα- aorist).

281. The indicative takes the augment (§ 264 and 265) and the secondary endings (§ 263); in the third singular active the tense suffix is -σε-. In the middle -σα-σο becomes -σω (§​​​​​​​§ 55.a and 29.c).

282. The subjunctive has the combined tense and mode suffix -σω:η-, and is inflected like the subjunctive present.

283. The optative contracts the tense suffix -σα- with the mode suffix -ι- (-ιε- in the third plural active). But in the active the forms with -σε- and -ια- (2nd singular and 3rd plural) or -ιε- (3rd singular) are more common. In the middle -σαι-σο becomes -σαιο.

284. The imperative takes the tense suffix -σα-; but -σον in the active second singular and -σαι in the middle second singular stand irregularly for the combined tense suffix and ending.

285. The infinitive takes -σαι in the active (irregularly) for combined tense suffix and ending, and always accents the penult (contrary to § 249).

παιδεῦσαι from παιδεύω educate

286. The participles take the tense suffix -σα-; the active participle is declined like ἅπᾱς (§​​​​​​​ 162), the middle is regular in the vowel declension.

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/grammar/goodell/%CF%89-conjugation-aorist-system-vowel-verbs-not-contracting