15
The Future Tense
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
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.
Putting it all together, the Future Indicative Active of λύω is as follows (S 383; GPH p. 75):
|
λύσω I will loosen |
λύσομεν we will loosen |
|
λύσεις you will loosen |
λύσετε you all will loosen |
|
λύσει (s)he, it will loosen |
λύσουσι they will loosen |
The Future Active Infinitive: λύσειν
The Future Indicative Active of δείκνυμι is as follows:
|
δείξω I will show |
δείξομεν we will show |
|
δείξεις you will show |
δείξετε you all will show |
|
δείξει (s)he, it will show |
δείξουσι they will show |
The Future Active Infinitive: δείξειν
Verbs: Principal Parts
Vocabulary entries for verbs in a Greek dictionary are listed alphabetically by the form of the 1st person singular present indicative active, e.g. δείκνυμι or λύω. Because adding –σ– to the verb stem can result in some unexpected forms, vocabulary entries also normally include the 1st person singular future indicative active as well.
These two forms are called PRINCIPAL PARTS, because they are principal forms that indicate how other tenses are formed. The following are verbs from the vocabulary of previous lessons, now with their second principal part – the 1st person singular future indicative active – added.
Note: Some verbs never occur in the future indicative active. In addition, –ω verbs that use the –ν– in the present tense rarely occur in the future indicative active, or are irregular in some way. If a verb from a previous lesson is not repeated here, it is because it does not occur in the future indicative active, or its form is covered in later lessons.
Principal Parts: –ω Verbs
- βουλεύω, βουλεύσω deliberate, resolve
- θύω, θύσω sacrifice
- κελεύω, κελεύσω order
- κλαίω, κλαύσω cry out
- κωλύω, κωλύσω prevent
- λύω, λύσω loosen, destroy
- ἀπολύω, ἀπολύσω release, divorce, forgive
- παύω, παύσω stop
- περισσεύω, περισσεύσω be left over, increase, exceed
- πιστεύω, πιστεύσω trust, rely on, believe in (+ dat.)
- πορεύω, πορεύσω carry
- φύω, φύσω produce
Principal Parts: –μι Verbs
- (δεικ-) δείκνυμι, δείξω show
- (μιγ-) μίγνυμι,