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 to η. Most (not all!) έω verbs form their future active by adding –σω to the lengthened vowel, resulting in the ending –ήσω. The future tense then conjugates regularly, using –ω personal and infinitive endings.
Note the PRINCIPAL PARTS of the following έω verbs.
- ἀδικέω -ήσω commit injustice
- αἱρέω -ήσω grab
- ἀναιρέω -ήσω raise up
- ἀφαιρέω -ήσω take from, take away
- αἰτέω -ήσω beg, ask
- βοηθέω -ήσω help
- δέω, δεήσω lack, miss, be in need of (+ gen.)
- Note that the –ε of δέω remains when forming its future tense!
- δοκέω, δόξω think, suppose; seem
- Note the future tense for this verb!
- ζητέω -ήσω seek
- κατηγορέω -ήσω accuse
- κατοικέω -ήσω inhabit, settle
- κινέω -ήσω move
- κρατέω -ήσω rule over
- λαλέω -ήσω talk, babble
- μισέω -ήσω hate
- οἰκέω -ήσω dwell
- οἰκοδομέω -ήσω build
- ὁμολογέω -ήσω agree
- πλέω sail
- The future tense of πλέω is introduced in a later lesson.
- ποιέω -ήσω do, make
- πολεμέω -ήσω make war
- φοβέω -ήσω frighten
- φρονέω -ήσω think
The following verbs are not έω verbs, but their future tense also ends in –ήσω.
- ἐθέλω, ἐθελήσω (or θέλω, θελήσω) want
- μέλλω, μελλήσω intend, be about to, be going to
- εὑρίσκω, εὑρήσω find
- μιμνήσκω, μνήσω remind
- χαίρω, χαιρήσω be happy, say hello
δεῖ
While δεῖ can mean (s)he/it lacks, this form is frequently used IMPERSONALLY in the 3rd person singular to mean it is necessary. This construction is often complemented with an infinitive. For example:
- δεῖ ταῦτα ποιεῖν.
- It is necessary to do these things.
- νόμοι εἰσὶ καθ’ οὓς δεῖ τοὺς θεοὺς τιμᾶν.
- There are customs according to which it is necessary to honor the gods.
δοκεῖ
While δοκεῖ can mean (s)he/it seems, this form is frequently used IMPERSONALLY in the 3rd person singular to mean it seems (good). This construction is often complemented with a dative. For example:
- ὡς ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ
- It seems to me (i.e. I think)…
- δοκεῖ τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῷ δήμῳ
- It seems best to the Boule and Demos (i.e., It is decreed by the Boule and Demos)…
άω Contract Verbs
Present Active Indicative
The next most common type of contraction in verbs involves –α. These verbs contract with thematic vowels in a similar fashion to έω verbs, though with some differences:
| α + ω = ω |
| α + ει = ᾳ |
| α + ο = ω |
| α + ε = ᾱ |
| α + ου = ω |
The Present Indicative Active of ἐρωτάω (cf. S 385; GPH p. 101).
|
(ἐρωτάω →) ἐρωτῶ I ask |
(ἐρωτάομεν →) ἐρωτῶμεν we ask |
|
(ἐρωτάεις →) ἐρωτᾷς you ask |
(ἐρωτάετε →) ἐρωτᾶτε you all ask |
|
(ἐρωτάει →) ἐρωτᾷ (s)he, it asks |
(ἐρωτάουσι →) ἐρωτῶσι they ask |
Present infinitive active: (ἐρωτάειν →) ἐρωτᾶν
Note that for the present infinitive, the anticipated form, ἐρωτᾷν, has dropped the iota subscript in its actual form. It is as though Greek speakers dropped the ι of the –ειν infinitive ending before the contraction. Whether this also happened in –έω present infinitives is difficult to tell; both ε + ειν and ε + εν = εῖν. But note the infinitive of –όω verbs, below.
The Present Imperative Active of ἐρωτάω
|
(ἐρώταε →) ἐρώτα (you sg.) ask! |
(ἐρωτάετε →) ἐρωτᾶτε (y’all) ask! |
|
(ἐρωταέτω →) ἐρωτάτω let him/her ask! |
(ἐρωταόντων →) ἐρωτώντων let them ask! |
Future Active Indicative
The FUTURE TENSE of most άω verbs is formed regularly, with one slight change. When the tense marker σ is added to a verb stem ending in –α, the α lengthens to η. Like έω verbs, most (not all!) άω verbs form their future active by adding –σω to the lengthened vowel, resulting in the ending –ήσω. Classical Greek, however, lengthens α to long α (not η) if the lengthened α is directly preceded by an ε, ι, or ρ. The future tense then conjugates regularly, using –ω personal and infinitive endings.
Note, for example, the PRINCIPAL PARTS of the following άω verbs.
- ἀγαπάω -ήσω love
- δράω, δράσω do
- ἐάω, ἐάσω allow
- ἐρωτάω -ήσω ask
- ζάω, ζήσω live
- νικάω -ήσω conquer, defeat
- ὁρμάω -ήσω hurry
- πειράω, πειράσω try, attempt
- τελευτάω, τελευτήσω finish, die
- τιμάω -ήσω honor
- τολμάω -ήσω dare
Conjugating ζάω
All άω verbs encountered in this lesson conjugate regularly, with the exception of ζάω “live.” This verb is one of a handful – most rarely encountered – that show η where we would expect long α after contraction (S 394). This is because the α of the verb stem for ζάω is already long before contraction, not short like the vast majority of άω verbs. Note the following (S 395; GPH p. 106):
|
(ζάω →) ζῶ I live |
(ζάομεν →) ζῶμεν we live |
|
(ζάεις →) ζῇς you live |
(ζάετε →) ζῆτε you all live |
|
(ζάει →) ζῇ (s)he, it lives |
(ζάουσι →) ζῶσι they live |
Present infinitive active: (ζάειν →) ζῆν
όω Contract Verbs
Present Active Indicative
The least common type of contraction in verbs involves –ο, where the contractions are:
| ο + ω = ω |
| ο + ει = οι |
| ο + ο = ου |
| ο + ε = ου |
| ο + ου = ου |
The Present Indicative Active of δηλόω (cf. S 385; GPH p. 118).
|
(δηλόω →) δηλῶ I show |
(δηλόομεν →) δηλοῦμεν we show |
|
(δηλόεις →) δηλοῖς you show |
(δηλόετε →) δηλοῦτε you all show |
|
(δηλόει →) δηλοῖ (s)he, it shows |
(δηλόουσι →) δηλοῦσι they show |
Present infinitive active: (δηλόειν →) δηλοῦν
Note that for the present infinitive, the anticipated form, δηλοῖν, is not the actual form. As with the άω verbs, Greek speakers appear to have dropped the ι of the –ειν ending before the contraction, resulting in δηλοῦν.
The Present Imperative Active of δηλόω
|
(δήλοε →) δήλου (you sg.) show! |
(δηλόετε →) δηλοῦτε (y’all) show! |
|
(δηλοέτω →) δηλούτω let him/her show! |
(δηλοόντων →) δηλοῦντων let them show! |
Future Active Indicative
The FUTURE TENSE of most όω verbs is formed regularly, with one slight change. When the tense marker σ is added to a verb stem ending in o, the o lengthens to ω. As a result, most όω verbs form their future active by adding –σω to the lengthened vowel, resulting in the ending –ώσω. The future tense then conjugates regularly, using –ω personal and infinitive endings.
Note the PRINCIPAL PARTS of the following όω verbs.
- ἀξιόω -ώσω consider worthy, valuable
- δηλόω -ώσω show
- φανερόω -ώσω reveal
– τὸ τέλος –
Key Terms and Concepts
- FIRST PRINCIPAL PART OF CONTRACT VERBS
- –έω CONTRACT VERBS
- DISYLLABIC –έω CONTRACT VERBS
- δεῖ
- –άω CONTRACT VERBS
- CONJUGATING ζάω
- –όω CONTRACT VERBS
Vocabulary List 1
έω Verbs
- ἀδικέω -ήσω commit injustice
- αἱρέω -ήσω grab
- ἀναιρέω raise up
- ἀφαιρέω take from, take away
- αἰτέω -ήσω beg, ask
- βοηθέω -ήσω help (+ dat.)
- δέω, δεήσω lack, miss, be in need of (+ gen.)
- δοκέω, δόξω think, suppose; seem
- ζητέω -ήσω seek
- κατηγορέω -ήσω accuse (+ acc. of ACCUSATION and + gen. of PERSON accused)
- κατοικέω -ήσω inhabit, settle
- κινέω -ήσω move
- κρατέω -ήσω rule over (+ gen.)
- λαλέω -ήσω talk, babble
- μισέω -ήσω hate
- οἰκέω -ήσω dwell
- οἰκοδομέω -ήσω build
- ὁμολογέω -ήσω agree
- πλέω sail
- ποιέω -ήσω do, make
- πολεμέω -ήσω make war (+ dat.)
- σκοπέω -ήσω look at, watch; look into, consider, examine
- φοβέω -ήσω frighten
- φρονέω -ήσω think
Vocabulary List 2
Futures Similar to έω Verbs
- ἐθέλω, ἐθελήσω want (alternative form: θέλω, θελήσω)
- μέλλω, μελλήσω intend, be about to, be going to
- εὑρίσκω, εὑρήσω find
- μιμνήσκω, μνήσω remind (+ acc. of PERSON reminded and + gen. of THING reminded of)
- χαίρω, χαιρήσω be happy, say hello (+ dat. to mean “enjoy”)
άω Verbs
- ἀγαπάω -ήσω love
- δράω, δράσω do
- ἐάω, ἐάσω allow
- ἐρωτάω -ήσω ask
- ζάω, ζήσω live
- νικάω -ήσω conquer, defeat
- ὁρμάω -ήσω hurry
- πειράω, πειράσω try, attempt (+ inf.)
- τελευτάω, τελευτήσω finish, die
- τιμάω -ήσω honor
- τολμάω -ήσω dare (+ inf.)
όω Verbs
- ἀξιόω -ώσω consider worthy, valuable
- δηλόω -ώσω show
- φανερόω -ώσω reveal
Exercises
Ι. For each of the following present tense contract verb endings, provide all possible uncontracted form(s) that could produce this result. For example, -οῦσι = (answer) -έουσι, -όουσι
- -ῶ
- -οῦσι
- -οῦμεν
- -ᾶτε
- -ᾷ
- -οῖς
- -οῖ
- -ῶμεν
- -εῖς
- -ῶσι
- -εῖτε
- -ᾷς
- -εῖ
- -οῦτε
ΙΙ. Conjugate both the UNCONTRACTED and CONTRACTED forms of the following verbs in full, in the present active indicative, infinitive, and imperative.
- δοκέω
- νικάω
- ἀξιόω
- ζάω
- δέω
III. For each inflected verb form, provide the person and number. If it is an infinitive, simply identify it as such. Translate into English. Then provide the future form of the verb in the same person and number (or future infinitive). For example: λαλεῖτε = (answer) 2nd pers., plural/ you all babble/ λαλήσετε. κρατεῖν = (answer) infinitive/ to rule over/ κρατήσειν.
- ζῶμεν
- μισεῖς
- τιμᾶτε
- κινεῖν
- τίμα
- ἀγαπῶσιν
- οἰκῶ
- ὁμολογοῦσι
- δηλοῦν
- τολμᾷ
- φανεροῖς
- κίνει
- βοηθεῖτε
- δρᾶν
- φρονεῖ