6.7 When οὔ has an acute accent, it usually means, No! When οὐ bears NO ACCENT, however, it is used to negate an INDICATIVE verb.
- οὐ δείκνυμι αὐτό.
- I am not showing it (αὐτό).
Before a word starting with a vowel with smooth breathing, –κ is added to end of οὐ to make pronunciation easier.
- οὐκ ἀφίημι αὐτό.
- I am not sending it forth.
Before a word starting with a rough breathing, the –κ is aspirated, becoming –χ:
- οὐχ ἵημι αὐτό.
- I am not throwing it.
Verbs in the INFINITIVE MOOD use a different word to express “not”: μή. Note the following examples:
- δίδωμι ὑμᾶς παρεῖναι.
- I give (= allow) you all (ὑμᾶς) to be present.
- οὐ δίδωμι ὑμᾶς παρεῖναι.
- I do not allow you all to be present.
- δίδωμι ὑμᾶς μὴ παρεῖναι.
- I allow you all not to be present.