18
Contract Verbs
The rules of vowel contraction operate in verbs when the VERB STEM ends in one of three short vowels: –α, –ε or –ο. In these cases, the final vowel of the stem contracts with the THEMATIC VOWEL of –ω verbs. Verbs that exhibit these contractions are called CONTRACT VERBS. Since –μι verbs do not conjugate with a thematic vowel, they do not contract.
There are three types of contract verbs: έω, άω, and όω. To inform readers that a verb is a CONTRACT VERB, its FIRST PRINCIPAL PART is always listed in its uncontracted form in a lexicon. For example:
- αἱρέω grab
- ἐρωτάω ask
- δηλόω show
As we will see, contract verbs follow predictable rules for contractions and accents, and conjugate in a stable fashion.
έω Contract Verbs
Present Indicative Active
The most common type of contract verbs are those whose verb stems end in –ε. For these verbs, when –ε contracts with a long vowel or diphthong, the long sound simply absorbs the –ε. Otherwise, the contractions are just as we have already learned.
| ε + ω = ω |
| ε + ει = ει |
| ε + ο = ου |
| ε + ε = ει |
| ε + ου = ου |
Perhaps the only trick to contract verbs is the accent. There are two steps. First, following the RECESSIVE ACCENT rules, place the accent on the UNCONTRACTED verb form. Second, follow the accent rules that apply to vowel contractions, learned earlier (e.g. ε + ό = ού; έ + ὸ = οῦ). These two steps together determine the final form and placement of the accent for a given verb.
So, putting it all together, we conjugate an έω verb in the Present, Indicative, Active as follows.
The Present Indicative Active of αἱρέω (cf. S 385; GPH p. 110).
|
(αἱρέω →) αἱρῶ I grab |
(αἱρέομεν →) αἱροῦμεν we grab |
|
(αἱρέεις →) αἱρεῖς you grab |
(αἱρέετε →) αἱρεῖτε y’all grab |
|
(αἱρέει →) αἱρεῖ (s)he, it grabs |
(αἱρέουσι →) αἱροῦσι they grab |
Present infinitive active: (αἱρέειν →) αἱρεῖν
The Present Imperative Active of αἱρέω.
|
(αἵρεε →) αἵρει (you sg.) grab!* |
(αἱρέετε →) αἱρεῖτε (y’all) grab! |
|
(αἱρεέτω →) αἱρείτω let him/her grab! |
(αἱρεόντων →) αἱρούντων let them grab! |
*Note the placement of the accent on the 2nd person singular present active imperative, which distinguishes it from the 3rd person singular present active indicative form.
Disyllabic –έω Verbs
Verbs in –έω with a disyllabic first person singular offer a slight variation from all other –έω verbs. They DO NOT contract the –ε with either ο or ω. They DO contract –ε with ε and ει. There are only two common disyllabic –έω verbs in Greek: δέω “need, want, lack” and πλέω “sail.” Note the following (S 397; GPH p. 115):
|
(πλέω →) πλέω I sail |
(πλέομεν →) πλέομεν we sail |
|
(πλέεις →) πλεῖς you sail |
(πλέετε →) πλεῖτε y’all sail |
|
(πλέει →) πλεῖ (s)he, it sails |
(πλέουσι →) πλέουσι they sail |
Present infinitive active: (πλέειν →) πλεῖν
Future Indicative Active
The FUTURE TENSE of most έω verbs is formed regularly, with one slight change. When the tense marker σ is added to a verb stem ending in ε, the ε lengthens t