16

The Future Tense

So far, we have only seen verbs in the PRESENT TENSE. This lesson introduces the FUTURE TENSE. As with the present tense, we begin building a Greek verb by starting with the VERB STEM, which tells us the action that the verb describes:

• λυ– loosen, destroy
• δεικ– show

The stem needs a marker that says the verb is in the future tense. The future tense marker for all verbs is –σ-. So now the stem looks (and sounds) like this:

• λυ + σ = λυσ– will loosen (future tense stem)
• δεικ + σ = δειξ– will show (future tense stem)

Remember that Greek has two distinct sets of inflectional endings:

• –μι verbs (athematic)
• –ω verbs (thematic)

ALL VERBS, regardless of whether they are thematic or athematic in the present tense, use THEMATIC (-ω verb) endings in the future tense. In other words, while δείκνυμι, for example, is a –μι verb in the present active, it uses the same thematic personal endings in the future active that a verb like λύω does.

Putting it all together, the Future Indicative Active of λύω is as follows (S 383; GPH p. 75):

The Future Active Infinitive: λύσειν

The Future Indicative Active of δείκνυμι is as follows:

The Future Active Infinitive: δείξειν

Verbs: Principal Parts

Vocabulary entries for verbs in a Greek dictionary are listed alphabetically by the form of the 1st person singular present indicative active, e.g. δείκνυμι or λύω. Because adding –σ– to the verb stem can result in some unexpected forms, vocabulary entries also normally include the 1st person singular future indicative active as well.

These two forms are called PRINCIPAL PARTS, because they are principal forms that indicate how other tenses are formed. The following are verbs from the vocabulary of previous lessons, now with their second principal part – the 1st person singular future indicative active – added.

Note: Some verbs never occur in the future indicative active. In addition, –ω verbs that use the –ν– in the present tense rarely occur in the future indicative active, or are irregular in some way. If a verb from a previous lesson is not repeated here, it is because it does not occur in the future indicative active, or its form is covered in later lessons.

Principal Parts: –ω Verbs

• βουλεύω, βουλεύσω deliberate, resolve
• θύω, θύσω sacrifice
• κελεύω, κελεύσω order
• κλαίω, κλαύσω cry out
• κωλύω, κωλύσω prevent
• λύω, λύσω loosen, destroy
  • ἀπολύω, ἀπολύσω release, divorce, forgive
• παύω, παύσω stop
• περισσεύω, περισσεύσω be left over, increase, exceed
• πιστεύω, πιστεύσω trust, rely on, believe in (+ dat.)
• πορεύω, πορεύσω carry
• φύω, φύσω produce

Principal Parts: –μι Verbs

• (δεικ-) δείκνυμι, δείξω show
• (μιγ-) μίγνυμι, μίξω mix
• (δω-) δίδωμι, δώσω give
  • ἀποδίδωμι, ἀποδώσω give back
  • παραδίδωμι, παραδώσω hand over, deliver
• (ἥ-) ἵημι, ἥσω  throw
  • ἀφίημι, ἀφήσω send forth; let go, allow
• (στη-) ἵστημι, στήσω stand
  • ἀνίστημι, ἀναστήσω raise, appoint
  • καθίστημι, καταστήσω set down, establish
  • παρίστημι, παραστήσω be present
• (θη-) τίθημι, θήσω put, make
  • ἐπιτίθημι, ἐπιθήσω put on
  • προστίθημι, προσθήσω add to
• (φη-) φημί, φήσω say

– τὸ τέλος –