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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.

The Pluperfect Indicative Active of λύω (S 383; GPH p. 91)

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

Pluperfect Middle

To form the PLUPERFECT MIDDLE voice, standard secondary endings are added directly to the pluperfect stem:

The Pluperfect Indicative Middle of λύω (S 383; GPH p. 91)

If the PLUPERFECT STEM ends in a CONSONANT, the same sound changes that we studied last lesson are the result.

The Pluperfect Indicative Middle of δείκνυμι, δείξω, ἔδειξα, δέδειχα, δέδειγμαι, ἐδείχθην (stem: δεικ-) (S 406; GPH p. 97)

Pluperfect Indicative Middle of φαίνω, φανῶ, ἔφηνα, πέφηνα, πέφασμαι, ἐφάνην (stem: φαν-) (S 407)

Periphrastic Construction

As with the perfect middle, Greeks prefer to have a PERIPHRASTIC construction for the PLUPERFECT MIDDLE 3rd person plural of consonant stems. Also like the perfect, the periphrastic consists of a PERFECT PARTICIPLE along with a form of εἰμί. In the pluperfect, however, the form of εἰμί is IMPERFECT.

Even when Greek has a PERFECT MIDDLE that can be expressed in one form, some authors use a PERIPHRASTIC construction for all persons and numbers, particularly if the middle form is being used for the PASSIVE voice. Context usually lets you know whether the voice is intended to be MIDDLE or PASSIVE.

• οἱ νόμοι γεγραμμένοι ἦσαν.
  • The laws had been written down.
  • The participle γεγραμμένοι is nominative masculine plural, matching the subject, οἱ νόμοι. Since the subject is 3rd pers. pl., so is the imperfect form of εἰμί: ἦσαν.

• αἱ γυναῖκες δεδειγμέναι ἦσαν.
  • The women had shown themselves.
  • The participle δεδειγμέναι is nominative feminine plural, matching the subject, αἱ γυναῖκες. Since the subject is 3rd pers. pl., so is the form of εἰμί: ἦσαν.

• ὁ νόμος ἐγέγραπτο or ὁ νόμος γεγραμμένος ἦν.
  • The law had been written down.
  • The participle γεγραμμένος is nominative masculine singular, matching the subject, ὁ νόμος. Since the subject is 3rd pers. sing., so is the imperfect form of εἰμί: ἦν

“I Know”

The verb οἶδα know, is common in Greek. As a perfect tense verb, οἶδα literally means I have seen/found out. However, it regularly translates as know in the present tense:

• you have seen/found out (perfect), so now you know (present)

Because of its relative antiquity, it retains some irregularities in its formation that must be memorized.

Perfect Indicative Active of οἶδα know (S 749; GPH p. 166)

Perfect Indicative Active Infinitive: εἰδέναι

2nd singular Imperative: ἴσθι

Participle: εἰδώς –υῖα –ός

The PLUPERFECT literally means had seen/found out, and so regularly means knew (in the sense that what you had seen, you knew and understood).

Pluperfect Indicative Active of οἶδα know (S 749; GPH p. 166)

– τὸ τέλος –