Subjunctive (Ancient Greek)
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The subjunctive mood (Greek ὑποτακτική (hupotaktikḗ) "for arranging underneath", from ὑποτάσσω (hupotássō) "I arrange beneath") along with the indicative, optative, and imperative, is one of the four moods of the Ancient Greek verb. It can be used both in the meaning "should" (the jussive subjunctive) and in the meaning "may" (the potential subjunctive).
When used in its jussive sense, the main uses of the subjunctive are these:
- To make 1st person suggestions ("let me say", "let's go")
- In deliberative questions ("what should I do?")
- To make negative commands ("don't be surprised!")
The potential subjunctive together with the particle ἄν (án) is used in clauses like the following:
- "If by chance...", "until such time as..." or "before such time as..." referring to an indefinite future time
- "Whenever...", "whoever...", "if ever..." etc. referring to repeated events in an indefinite present time
The potential subjunctive without ἄν (án) can refer to an event or situation in the future in uses such as the following:
- Purpose clauses ("so that it can happen",)
- After verbs of fearing or doubt ("I fear it may happen", "I doubt if it can happen")
In a past time context either the subjunctive or the optative mood may be used in such sentences:
- Purpose clauses (past context) ("so that it could happen")
- After verbs of fearing (past context) ("I feared that it might happen")
Without an introductory verb, but preceded by μή (mḗ) "not", the subjunctive can also be used for:
- Doubtful or emphatic assertions about the future ("it may be that.." or "it is certain that...")
The two moods subjunctive and optative together cover most of the areas covered by the Latin subjunctive. However, one area for which the subjunctive is used in Latin but neither mood is used in Greek is for counterfactual situations in the present or past (e.g. "it would be happening (but isn't)", "it would have happened (but didn't)", "I should have done it (but didn't)" etc.). For this area of meaning the imperfect and aorist indicative tenses are used in Ancient Greek.
The subjunctive is still used today in modern Greek, whereas the optative has died out.
The subjunctive almost always has the letters ω (ō) or η (ē) in the ending. It exists in three tenses only: the present, the aorist, and the perfect. (The perfect is, however, rarely used.) The difference between the present and aorist subjunctive is one of aspect rather than of time: the present subjunctive primarily refers to situations, whereas the aorist describes events (whether single or repeated).
Except sometimes in Homer, the negative used with the subjunctive is always μή (mḗ).[1]
Uses
Jussive subjunctive
Just as in Latin, the Greek subjunctive can sometimes mean "should". This use is known as the "jussive" subjunctive.[2]
1st person suggestions
The jussive subjunctive has several uses. One use is in 1st person plural exhortations (the "hortatory" subjunctive):[3]
- ἄγε νῡν, ἴωμεν.[4]
- áge nūn, íōmen.
- Come now, let's go.
More rarely, generally preceded by φέρε δή (phére dḗ),[5] it can be used in the 1st person singular:
- φέρε δὴ δείξω ὑμῖν.[6]
- phére dḕ deíksō humîn.
- Come now, let me show you.
Since Ancient Greek has a 3rd person imperative, the imperative rather than the subjunctive is usually used for 3rd person commands or suggestions where Latin would use a 3rd person subjunctive (e.g. veniat "let him come").[7]
Deliberative questions
Similarly the subjunctive is used in deliberative questions, usually in the 1st person:[8]
- εἴπωμεν ἢ σῑγῶμεν;[9]
- eípōmen ḕ sīgômen;
- Should we speak (aorist) or should we remain silent (present)?
Negative commands
The subjunctive mood can also be used for 2nd person negative commands, but only with the aorist tense. The negative, as will almost all uses of the subjunctive, is μή (mḗ):[10]
- μὴ θαυμάσῃς.[11]
- mḕ thaumásēis. (aorist subjunctive)
- Don't be surprised.
When the meaning of the negative command is "don't continue to do something", μή (mḗ) is used with the present imperative:[12]
- μὴ κλαίετε.[13]
- mḕ klaíete. (present imperative)
- Don't weep (= don't continue to weep).
Potential subjunctive with ἄν (án)
The subjunctive mood is often used in clauses introduced by a conjunction combined with the particle ἄν (án). This particle, when used in this type of clause, always goes closely with the conjunction, not with the verb.[14] Clauses of this type can only refer to an indefinite present or future time, never to the past (for which the optative is used, without ἄν (án) (see Optative (Ancient Greek)).
If (in future)
The subjunctive is often used in the protasis (i.e. the "if" clause) of conditional sentences after the conjunction ἐάν/ἤν/ἄν (eán/ḗn/án) "if (by chance)" or "if (in future)" referring to a future situation that is quite likely to happen. (Note that ἄν (án) when it means "if" has a long vowel and is a contraction of ἐάν (eán).) Conditional sentences of this kind are referred to by Smyth as the "more vivid" future conditions:[15]
- ἢν μὲν ἀνάγκη ᾖ, πολεμήσομεν.[16]
- ḕn mèn anánkē ēî, polemḗsomen.
- If it's necessary, we shall make war.
The negative used with the potential subjunctive, as with the jussive subjunctive, is μή (mḗ):
- ἢν μὴ ’θέλωσι, ἀναγκάσουσιν.[17]
- ḕn mḕ ’thélōsi, anankásousin.
- If they are not willing, they will force them.
Before, until
The same construction is used with πρὶν ἄν (prìn án) "before" and ἕως ἄν (héōs án) "until" referring to an event or situation which it is expected will occur at an indefinite future time:
- οὐ παύσομαι πρὶν ἂν φράσῃς μοι.[18]
- ou paúsomai prìn àn phrásēis moi.
- I shan't stop until you tell me.
- λέγε, ἕως ἂν οἴκαδε ὥρᾱ ᾖ ἀπιέναι.[19]
- lége, héōs àn oíkade hṓrā ēî apiénai.
- Speak, until it is time to go home.
Whenever, whoever, etc.
Another very similar use of the subjunctive is in indefinite subordinate clauses following a conjunction such as ἐᾱ́ν (eā́n) "if ever", ὅταν (hótan) "whenever", ὃς ἄν (hòs án) "whoever", etc., referring to repeated actions in indefinite present time.[20]
- δυνατὸς δέ γ’ ἐστὶν ἕκαστος ἄρα, ὃς ἂν ποιῇ ὃ ἂν βούληται, ὅταν βούληται.[21]
- dunatòs dé g’ estìn hékastos ára, hòs àn poiēî hò àn boúlētai, hótan boúlētai.
- So everyone is powerful who does whatever he wants whenever he wants.
- ὅταν δέ τις πειρᾶται παριέναι, κυλίνδουσι λίθους.[22]
- hótan dé tis peirâtai pariénai, kulíndousi líthous.
- Whenever anyone tries to pass, they roll stones.
- τοῖς φυγάσιν ἔξεστιν οἰκεῖν ὅπου ἂν θέλωσιν.[23]
- toîs phugásin éksestin oikeîn hópou àn thélōsin.
- It's possible for exiles to live wherever they wish.
- ὅπου ἂν στρατοπεδεύωνται, τάφρον περιβάλλονται.[24]
- hópou àn stratopedeúōntai, táphron peribállontai.
- Wherever they make a camp, they throw a ditch around it.
The equivalent of this construction in past time uses the optative mood without ἄν (án) (see Optative (Ancient Greek)). Unlike with purpose clauses and after verbs of fearing, the subjunctive is not used in a past-time context in such clauses.
Potential subjunctive without ἄν (án)
Purpose clauses
In subordinate clauses the subjunctive without ἄν (án) generally has the meaning "may". For example, it is used in purpose clauses, especially those referring to present or future time:[25]
- λέγε, ἵνα ἀκούω.[26]
- lége, hína akoúō.
- Speak, so that I may listen.
Although in a past context, the optative mood is often used in a purpose clause (see Optative (Ancient Greek)), it is also possible to use the subjunctive even in a past context:[27]
- Ἀβροκόμας κατέκαυσεν [τὰ πλοῖα], ἵνα μὴ Κῦρος διαβῇ.[28]
- Abrokómas katékausen [tà ploîa], hína mḕ Kûros diabēî. (aorist subjunctive)
- Abrocomas had burnt the boats, so that Cyrus wouldn't cross.
After verbs of fearing
The subjunctive is used after verbs of fearing to express fears for the future, after a verb of fearing in the present tense. In this case the word μή (mḗ) "lest" is always added after the verb of fearing:[29]
- φοβεῖται μὴ πολιορκώμεθα.[30]
- phobeîtai mḕ poliorkṓmetha.
- He is afraid that we may be besieged.
In a past context the optative mood is generally used instead of the subjunctive (see Optative (Ancient Greek). However, as with purpose clauses, the subjunctive may optionally be used even when the context is past:
- ἐφοβήθησαν μὴ πολέμιαι ὦσιν.[31]
- ephobḗthēsan mḕ polémiai ôsin.
- They were afraid at first that (the ships) might be (lit. may be) hostile.
Doubts can be expressed in Ancient Greek by using εἰ (ei) "if" or an indirect question and the subjunctive after a verb of fearing:[32]
- φόβος εἰ πείσω δέσποιναν ἐμήν.[33]
- phóbos ei peísō déspoinan emḗn.
- I doubt if I can persuade my mistress.
When the sentence has the form "I fear that something is the case or was the case", referring to the present or past, the indicative, not the subjunctive, is used.[34]
Doubtful and emphatic assertions
Similar to its use with verbs of fearing, the subjunctive with μή (mḗ) is sometimes used in doubtful assertions, meaning "it may be the case that" or (with μὴ οὐ(κ) (mḕ ou(k))) "it may not be the case that", especially in Plato:[35]
- μὴ οὐχ οὕτως ἔχῃ.[36]
- mḕ oukh hoútōs ékhēi.
- Possibly it may not be so.
A similar construction, but with οὐ μή (ou mḗ) rather than μὴ οὐ (mḕ ou), can also be used for an emphatic assertion, as in this sentence from the New Testament, always negative and usually with the aorist subjunctive:[37]
- μήποτε οὐ μὴ ἀρκέσῃ ἡμῖν καὶ ὑμῖν.[38]
- mḗpote ou mḕ arkésēi hēmîn kaì humîn.
- Certainly there won't be enough (oil) both for us and for you!
Tense and the subjunctive
The subjunctive, like the imperative, is found in only three tenses: the present, aorist, and perfect. In indefinite clauses with ἄν (án) (such as those beginning "whenever..." or "if...". etc.) the difference between the three tenses does not refer to time relative to the current time, but relative to the time of the main verb of the sentence.[39] The present and perfect refer to a situation which is existing at the time of the main verb, while the aorist refers to an event which has been completed earlier.
Thus, when the speaker is referring simply to an event which is completed before the time of the main verb (e.g. "after A has happened, B happens") the aorist subjunctive is used, as in the example below:
- ἐπειδὰν δὲ οὗτοι πάντες εἴπωσι, τότ’ ἤδη κελεύει λέγειν τῶν ἄλλων Ἀθηναίων τὸν βουλόμενον, οἷς ἔξεστιν.[40]
- epeidàn dè hoûtoi pántes eípōsi, tót’ ḗdē keleúei légein tôn állōn Athēnaíōn tòn boulómenon.
- And when all of these men have spoken, then (the herald) orders any of the other Athenians who wishes to speak, to say his piece.
When the subjunctive verb refers to a situation which is simultaneous with the time of the main verb, the present subjunctive is used:
- ἐπειδάν ἡγῆται βασιλεύς, οὐδεὶς αὐτοῦ πρόσθεν πορεύεται.[41]
- epeidán hēgêtai basileús, oudeìs autoû prósthen poreúetai.
- Whenever a king is leading, no one walks in front of him.
- μαινόμεθα πάντες ὁπόταν ὀργιζώμεθα.[42]
- mainómetha pántes hopótan orgizṓmetha.
- We are all mad whenever we are angry.
The perfect subjunctive also refers to a situation existing at the time of the main verb, but as a result of something which has happened earlier, as in the example below:
- ἐάν τε ἑαλωκὼς ᾖ ἐάν τε μή, δηλούτω.[43]
- eán te healōkṑs ēî eán te mḗ, dēloútō.
- Whether (the hare) has been caught or not, (the huntsman) should make it clear (to his colleagues).
In this sentence, δηλούτω (dēloútō) "he should make it clear" is a 3rd person imperative; the present tense is used with general meaning, since this is something the hunter should do every time he goes hunting for hares, not on one occasion only.
The subjunctive can also be used prospectively, that is, referring to an event that is future relative to the present time (e.g. "don't be surprised!"), or to the time of the introductory verb (e.g. "he burnt the boats so that Cyrus wouldn't cross"). In this type of sentence the aorist subjunctive is used to refer to an event, and the present subjunctive to a situation:
- εἴπωμεν ἢ σιγῶμεν;[44]
- eípōmen ḕ sigômen?
- Should we speak (event – aorist subjunctive) or should we remain silent (situation – present subjunctive)?
Thus in the subjunctive mood, as in the imperative, the difference between the tenses is one of aspect rather than of time, and both the aorist and the present can equally well refer to the past, general present, or indefinite future time relative to the time of speaking.
Morphology
Subjunctive endings almost always contain the letters η or ω, except in the 2nd and 3rd person singular of -όω verbs, which have -οῖς, -οῖ.
The order of the endings in the tables below is: "I", "you sg.", "he/she/it", "we", "you pl.", "they".
A 2nd and 3rd person dual number (e.g. ἦτον "you both may be", ἦτον "they both may be") also exists but in most verbs it is rare. It is omitted from these tables.
| subjunctive | present | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| λῡ́ω | ποιέω | τιμάω | δηλόω | εἰμί | εἶμι | φημί | δίδωμι | οἶδα | |
| active | λῡ́ω λῡ́ῃς λῡ́ῃ λῡ́ωμεν λῡ́ητε λῡ́ωσι(ν) |
ποιῶ ποιῇς ποιῇ ποιῶμεν ποιῆτε ποιῶσι(ν) |
τιμῶ τιμᾷς τιμᾷ τιμῶμεν τιμᾶτε τιμῶσι(ν) |
δηλῶ δηλοῖς δηλοῖ δηλῶμεν δηλῶτε δηλῶσι(ν) |
ὦ ᾖς ᾖ ὦμεν ἦτε ὦσι(ν) |
ἴω ἴῃς ἴῃ ἴωμεν ἴητε ἴωσι(ν) |
φῶ φῇς φῇ φῶμεν φῆτε φῶσι(ν) |
διδῶ διδῷς διδῷ διδῶμεν διδῶτε διδῶσι(ν) |
εἰδῶ εἰδῷς εἰδῷ εἰδῶμεν εἰδῶτε εἰδῶσι(ν) |
| subjunctive | aorist | perfect | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἔλῡσα | ἔλαβον | -έβην | ἔδωκα | ἔγνων | λέλῠκα | |
| active (cont.) |
λῡ́σω λῡ́σῃς λῡ́σῃ λῡ́σωμεν λῡ́σητε λῡ́σωσι(ν) |
λάβω λάβῃς λάβῃ λάβωμεν λάβητε λάβωσι(ν) |
-βῶ -βῇς -βῇ -βῶμεν -βῆτε -βῶσι(ν) |
δῶ δῷς δῷ δῶμεν δῶτε δῶσι(ν) |
γνῶ γνῷς γνῷ γνῶμεν γνῶτε γνῶσι(ν) |
λελυκὼς ὦ λελυκὼς ᾖς λελυκὼς ᾖ λελυκότες ὦμεν λελυκότες ἦτε λελυκότες ὦσι(ν) |
- βαίνω "I go" is almost always used with a prefix (e.g. δια-, κατα-, συμ- etc.) except in poetry.
- The perfect subjunctive is very rare. It is usually made from the perfect participle plus the subjunctive of εἰμί, although occasionally the endings are added directly to the stem.[45]
- Instead of δῷ and γνῷ Homer has δώῃ and γνώῃ. The New Testament has contracted forms δοῖ[46] and γνοῖ,[47] which despite having the appearance of optatives are generally analysed as aorist subjunctive.[48]
| subjunctive | present | aorist | perfect | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| λῡ́ομαι | ποιοῦμαι | ἐλῡσάμην | ἐγενόμην | λέλῠμαι | |
| middle | λῡ́ωμαι λῡ́ῃ λῡ́ηται λῡώμεθα λῡ́ησθε λῡ́ωνται |
ποιῶμαι ποιῇ ποιῆται ποιώμεθα ποιῆσθε ποιῶνται |
λῡ́σωμαι λῡ́σῃ λῡ́σηται λῡσώμεθα λῡ́σησθε λῡ́σωνται |
γένωμαι γένῃ γένηται γενώμεθα γένησθε γένωνται |
λελυμένος ὦ λελυμένος ᾖς λελυμένος ᾖ λελυμένοι ὦμεν λελυμένοι ἦτε λελυμένοι ὦσι(ν) |
| subjunctive | present | aorist | perfect | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| λῡ́ομαι | ποιοῦμαι | ἐλύθην | λέλῠμαι | |
| passive | λῡ́ωμαι λῡ́ῃ λῡ́ηται λῡώμεθα λῡ́ησθε λῡ́ωνται |
ποιῶμαι ποιῇ ποιῆται ποιώμεθα ποιῆσθε ποιῶνται |
λῠθῶ λυθῇς λυθῇ λυθῶμεν λυθῆτε λυθῶσι(ν) |
λελυμένος ὦ λελυμένος ᾖς λελυμένος ᾖ λελυμένοι ὦμεν λελυμένοι ἦτε λελυμένοι ὦσι(ν) |
- βλαβῶ "I may be harmed" and φανῶ "I may appear" have endings similar to λυθῶ.
- The endings -ην and -θην are sometimes middle in meaning.
References
- ↑ Goodwin, W.W. A Greek Grammar (1894), § 1610.
- ↑ For the term, cf. Woodcock, E.C. (1989) A New Latin Syntax. p. 84.
- ↑ Smyth, Herbert Weir (1920). "Part IV: Syntax". A Greek grammar for colleges. Cambridge: American Book Company. § 1797.
- ↑ Aristophanes, Pax 850
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 1979.b
- ↑ Demosthenes, 45.29
- ↑ cf. Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 1800.b, c
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 1805.
- ↑ Euripides, Ion 758
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 1841.
- ↑ Plato, Phdr. 238d
- ↑ Nunn, H.P.V. (1962) Elements of New Testament Greek (Cambridge University Press), p. 100.
- ↑ Luke, 8:52
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 1768.
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. §§ 2297, 2321, 2322.
- ↑ Xenophon, An. 5.5.22
- ↑ Thucydides, 5.35.3
- ↑ Xenophon, An. 4.7.4
- ↑ Plato, Ly. 211b
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. §§ 1768, 2297, 2401, 2409, 2567.
- ↑ Plato, Hp. Mi. 366b
- ↑ Xenophon, An. 4.7.4
- ↑ Aristotle, Rh. 1401b.25
- ↑ Xenophon, Cyr. 3.3.26
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 2193.
- ↑ Plato, Ly. 211b
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 2197.
- ↑ Xenophon, An. 1.4.18
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 2225.
- ↑ Xenophon, Hell. 4.8.4
- ↑ Thucydides, 1.55.5
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 2234.
- ↑ Euripides, Med. 184
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 2233.
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 1801.
- ↑ Plato, Cra. 436b; an alternative reading has the indicative ἔχει (ékhei).
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 1804.
- ↑ Matthew, 25:9
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 1860.
- ↑ Aeschines, 1.23
- ↑ Xenophon, Lac. 13.6
- ↑ Philemon, 184
- ↑ Xenophon, Cyn. 6.18
- ↑ Euripides, Ion. 755
- ↑ Smyth. A Greek grammar for colleges. § 693.
- ↑ Mark 8:37
- ↑ Mark 5:43, 9:31, Luke 19:15
- ↑ Buttmann, A. (1873), translated Thayer, J.H. A Grammar of New Testament Greek, p. 46.