44.12 As with the perfect middle, Greeks prefer to have a PERIPHRASTIC construction for the PLUPERFECT MIDDLE 3rd person plural of consonant stems. Also like the perfect, the periphrastic consists of a PERFECT PARTICIPLE along with a form of εἰμί. In the pluperfect, however, the form of εἰμί is IMPERFECT.
Even when Greek has a PERFECT MIDDLE that can be expressed in one form, some authors use a PERIPHRASTIC construction for all persons and numbers, particularly if the middle form is being used for the PASSIVE voice. Context usually lets you know whether the voice is intended to be MIDDLE or PASSIVE.
- οἱ νόμοι γεγραμμένοι ἦσαν.
- The laws had been written down.
- The participle γεγραμμένοι is nominative masculine plural, matching the subject, οἱ νόμοι. Since the subject is 3rd person plural, so is the imperfect form of εἰμί: ἦσαν.
- αἱ γυναῖκες δεδειγμέναι ἦσαν.
- The women had shown themselves.
- The participle δεδειγμέναι is nominative feminine plural, matching the subject, αἱ γυναῖκες. Since the subject is 3rd person plural, so is the form of εἰμί: ἦσαν.
- ὁ νόμος ἐγέγραπτο or ὁ νόμος γεγραμμένος ἦν.
- The law had been written down.
- The participle γεγραμμένος is nominative masculine singular, matching the subject, ὁ νόμος. Since the subject is 3rd pers. sing., so is the imperfect form of εἰμί: ἦν.