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The Pluperfect
Greek tenses differ in what is called ASPECT. The PERFECT TENSE states that an action is completed now. The PLUPERFECT TENSE reflects the same aspect as the PERFECT, though for an action that was completed in the past. For example:
- I have arrived. Perfect: the speaker has now arrived.
- I had arrived. Pluperfect: the speaker arrived some time in the past.
Since the PERFECT and PLUPERFECT TENSES reflect the same aspect in Greek, they both are formed from the PERFECT STEM (S 1852b). As we previously learned, the PERFECT TENSE is a PRIMARY tense. The PLUPERFECT, however, is a SECONDARY tense, and so must be inflected with an augment and secondary endings.
Pluperfect Active
Like all indicative past tenses in Greek, the pluperfect adds an AUGMENT. To mark the ACTIVE voice, a –κ– is added to the PERFECT STEM. As a result, the pattern to form the PLUPERFECT ACTIVE STEM is as follows:
- augment + perfect stem + –κ–
To this stem are added a variation of SECONDARY personal endings. These endings most closely resemble athematic (-μι) verbs.
|
–η = I (1st sg) |
–εμεν = we (1st pl) |
|
–ης = you (2nd sg) |
–ετε = y’all (2nd pl) |
|
–ει = (s)he, it (3rd sg) |
–εσαν = they (3rd pl) |
The Pluperfect Indicative Active of λύω (S 383; GPH p. 91)
|
ἐλελύκη |
ἐλελύκεμεν |
|
ἐλελύκης |
ἐλελύκετε |
|
ἐλελύκει |
ἐλελύκεσαν |
As we previously noted in our discussion of PERFECT STEMS, if the –κ– marker is added to a stem that ends in a LABIAL (π, β, φ), PALATAL (κ, γ, χ), and most stems ending in a LIQUID (λ, ρ), the –κ– merges or, more often, simply drops out to ease pronunciation (S 561-573).
- δεικ → δεδεικ– (perfect stem)
- ἐδεδεικκ → ἐδεδειχ– (pluperfect active stem)
- γραφ → γεγραφ– (perfect stem)
- ἐγεγραφ– (pluperfect active stem)
- ἀρχ → ἠρχ– (perfect stem)
- ἠρχ– (pluperfect active stem)
The Pluperfect Indicative Active of γράφω, γράψω, ἔγραψα, γέγραφα, γέγραμμαι, ἐγράφην
|
ἐγεγράφη |
ἐγεγράφεμεν |
|
ἐγεγράφης |
ἐγεγράφετε |
|
ἐγεγράφει |
ἐγεγράφεσαν |
Mixed Perfects
The “Mixed Perfects” δέδοικα, τέθνηκα, and ἕστηκα, which have plural forms built on the short form of the stem (without the –κ– marker), have similar tendencies in the pluperfect. Note in particular the following forms:
- δέδοικα has plural pluperfect forms built on the short stem: ἐδέδιμεν, ἐδέδιτε, ἐδέδι(ε)σαν
- τέθνηκα has a 3rd person plural form built on the short stem: ἐτέθνασαν
- ἕστηκα has a 3rd person plural form built on the short stem: ἕστασαν
- Note also that in the pluperfect of ἕστηκα, the forms with the –κ– marker usually begin with εἱ– because the augment contracts with the initial ε of the stem: εἱστήκη, κτλ.
Pluperfect Middle
To form the PLUPERFECT MIDDLE voice, standard secondary endings are added directly to the pluperfect stem:
|
–μην = I (1st sg) |
–μεθα = we (1st pl) |
|
–σο = you (2nd sg) |
–σθε = y’all (2nd pl) |
|
–το = (s)he, it (3rd sg) |
–ντο = they (3rd pl) |
The Pluperfect Indicative Middle of λύω (S 383; GPH p. 91)
|
ἐλελύμην |
ἐλελύμεθα |
|
ἐλέλυσ