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The Middle Voice: First Aorist
Recall that the formula to form the FIRST AORIST indicative is:
- augment + verb stem + first aorist (-σα) marker + secondary endings
To form the first aorist middle, we simply replace the active secondary endings with middle secondary endings. Note that the second person singular regularly appears in a contracted form that results from the loss of the INTERVOCALIC SIGMA (S 628).
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–σάμην = I (1st person singular) |
–σαμεθα = we (1st person plural) |
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(-σασο →) –σω = you (2nd person singular) |
–σασθε = y’all (2nd person plural) |
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–σατο = (s)he, it (3rd person sg) |
–σαντο = they (3rd person pl) |
Infinitive ending: –σασθαι. For the First Aorist Middle infinitive, note the following:
- As with the PRESENT MIDDLE INFINITIVE, the accent falls on the ANTEPENULT
- Infinitives never receive an augment
In the 2nd PERSON PLURAL of both the PRESENT and AORIST, the IMPERATIVE uses the same personal endings as the INDICATIVE: –σθε (middle).
Just as with infinitives, the AORIST IMPERATIVE never receives an AUGMENT.
- λύσασθε, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τοὺς ἵππους.
- Men of Athens, ransom the horses!
A FIRST AORIST in the imperative uses the personal ending –σαι in the 2nd PERSON SINGULAR MIDDLE:
- λῦσαι, ὦ βασιλεῦ, τοὺς ἵππους.
- King, ransom the horses!
Beware that this 2nd person singular middle imperative is easily confused with the FIRST AORIST INFINITIVE active in disyllabic verbs. For verbs of three or more syllables, however, the accent distinguishes between the two:
- κέλευσαι (imperative, recessive accent on antepenult)
- κελεῦσαι (infinitive, persistent accent on penult)
3rd person imperative endings of both the PRESENT and FIRST/SECOND AORIST:
- singular: –σθω (middle)
- plural: –σθων (middle)
The Aorist, Indicative, Middle of λύω (S 383; GPH p. 78)
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ἐλυσάμην |
ἐλυσάμεθα |
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(ἐλύσασο → ) ἐλύσω |
ἐλύσασθε |
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ἐλύσατο |
ἐλύσαντο |
Aorist Middle Infinitive: λύσασθαι
Aorist Middle Imperatives:
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λῦσαι |
λύσασθε |
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λυσάσθω |
λυσάσθων |
The Aorist, Indicative, Middle of δείκνυμι
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ἐδειξάμην |
ἐδειξάμεθα |
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(ἐδείξασο → ) ἐδείξω |
ἐδείξασθε |
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ἐδείξατο |
ἐδείξαντο |
Aorist Middle Infinitive: δείξασθαι
Aorist Middle Imperatives:
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δεῖξαι |
δείξασθε |
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δειξάσθω |
δειξάσθων |
The Middle Voice: Second Aorist
Thematic Second Aorist
Recall that the formula to form the THEMATIC SECOND AORIST indicative is:
- augment + verb stem + thematic vowel (ο/ε) + secondary endings
To form the second aorist thematic middle, we simply replace the active secondary endings with middle secondary endings. Note that the second person singular regularly appears in a contracted form that results from the loss of the INTERVOCALIC SIGMA (S 628). The endings, in other words, are identical to those used for the middle imperfect of thematic verbs.
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–ομην = I (1st person singular) |
–ομεθα = we (1st person plural) |
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(-εσο →) –ου = you (2nd person singular) |
–εσθε = y’all (2nd person plural) |
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–ετο = (s)he, it (3rd person sg) |
–οντο = they (3rd per