Greek Participles | "It's All Greek to YOU!"

Greek Indicative Verb Tenses Formation Charts & PowerPoint

Indicative Mode Greek verbs can be readily learned utilizing a memory system that encapsulates the verb’s personal endings into a numbering system that can be plugged into an easily recognizable and memorable “formula” for each of the Greek verb tenses and voices. All other Greek verbal modes (as well as Participles, which are verbal-adjectives) can be memorized under similar systems which are included within Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK.

Using an “odd” and “even” numbering system which re-codes the verb column numbers with the endings’ thematic vowel, this memory paradigm can be reduced to four basic columns of verb endings that need to be mastered. All of the Greek Indicative Mode tenses and their respective voices can be formed off of variations of these four basic columns of verb endings. Click here to download the “PowerPoint” presentation. Similar paradigms can be utilized for all Greek modes, including the Subjunctive, Imperative, and Optative Modes, as well as Participles.

Go to: Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK.com

Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK Now Available for Purchase as a Watermarked PDF!

Published in:

Greek Verbs

on November 14, 2012 at 5:10 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Greek Imperative Mode, Greek Indicative Mode, Greek Indicative Verbs Formation, Greek Participles, Greek Subjunctive Mode, Greek Verbs Endings, Greek Verbs Formation, Greek Verbs Powerpoint, Wermuth's GREEKBOOK

Participle = “Verbal Adjective”

When you see a Greek word that looks like a verb at its beginning that has declined endings, that word must be a Participle. It is critically important that the beginning Greek student learn the declension of the 3rd Declension noun ἀρχῶν, ὁ (ruler). From this noun active participle endings are derived, and the noun’s stem (ἀρχ-) is replaced with a verbal stem (or, as I like to say in class, “We’re putting Noah back into the ‘ark’ [ἀρχ-] and sending him on a vacation.” The resultant verb stem + declined endings = a verbal-adjective, the grammatical description for a participle (e.g., λύων, λύοντος…).

When studying and memorizing participle endings, it is helpful to remember the nominative singular forms of each of the active, middle and passive endings that occur. Including thematic vowel changes, there are four active forms of participle endings (one of them used “passively” with Aorist passives) and three middle/passive forms. Since participles are verbal adjectives, the student will observe a verbal stem with declined endings in all three genders. The active endings (nominative singular) are represented by: -ων, -ουσα, -ον (Present, 2nd Aorist); -ας, -ασα, -αν (1st Aorist); -εις, -εισα, -εν (1st & 2nd Aorist passive; remember: Aorist Passives always utilize “active looking” endings); and -ως, -υια, -ος (Perfect). Since each of these groups of endings are declined in a similar way with the masculines and neuters in the 3rd declension and the feminines in the 1st declension (like γλῶσσα), knowledge of the nominative singulars becomes a “jumping off” point in the student’s mind for recognition of any other case forms he may encounter. The middle/passive endings are much more simple, occuring in the 2nd declension for masculine and neuter forms, and the 1st declension for the feminines (like ἀγάπη) and represented by; -ομενος, –ομενη, –ομενον (Present, 2nd Aorist); -αμενος, -αμενη, -αμενον (1st Aorist); –μενος, -μενη, -μενον (Perfect).

When the Greek “circumstantial” (temporal, adverbial) participle occurs (without an article) in the Present tense. The “temporal” (time-oriented) adverb used to translate a Present tense circumstantial participle is “As” (or “While”). The time frame of the “dependent” (temporal, circumstantial) clause should be consistent with the time frame of the indicative verb of the “independent” (main) clause.

(PRESENT) βλέπει τὸν κύριον ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ …
“He is seeing the Lord (as He [the Lord] is) coming toward him and he is saying to him…” (John 1:29a)

When the Greek “circumstantial” participle occurs in the Aorist tense. The “temporal” (time-oriented) adverb used to translate an Aorist tense circumstantial participle is “After.” Again, the time frame of the “dependent” (temporal, circumstantial) clause is translated concurrent with the time frame of the indicative verb in the “independent” (main) clause. (ibid, p. 69)

(AORIST) ἐλθῶν οὖν ὁ Ἰησους εὖρεν αὐτὸν.
“Therefore after He came Jesus found him.” (John 11:17a)
(Better): “Therefore after Jesus came He [Jesus] found him.”

Go to: Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK.com

Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK Now Available for Purchase as a Watermarked PDF!

Published in:

Greek Participles

on September 25, 2012 at 11:35 am Leave a Comment
Tags: circumstantial participles, Greek Participles, It's All Greek to..., verbal adjectives

Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK Available for Purchase as a Watermarked PDF!

For New Testament Greek students seeking the contemporary convenience of electronic mobility, Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK is also available for purchase in a watermarked PDF format. I’ve posted three sample watermarked images below; click any of the images for two-stage enlargement viewing. Speedily delivered to you as a 3.8MB file via email, you’ll be able to easily load the full 119-page book—including the table of contents—to your iPad or other such portable devices. To purchase your Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK PDF at a discounted price of $29.99 (25% off the printed version), click on the image below linked to PayPal.

Go to: Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK.com

Published in:

on December 26, 2011 at 6:31 pm Comments (19)
Tags: "Contract Verbs", "Mi"-Verbs, "principal parts" of Greek verbs, 8-Case Greek Declension, Beginning New Testament Greek Study Resources, Charles Wenzel, Christ Church Bloomington Illinois, Columbia Bible College, Columbia International Seminary and University, Covenant Theological Seminary, Deponent Greek Verbs, Dr. Dan Zink, Dr. Sam Lammerson, Genitive Absolute, Greek Accusative of General Reference, Greek Adjectives, Greek Conditional Sentences, Greek Imperative, Greek Indicative, Greek Indirect Discourse, Greek Infinitives, Greek Nouns, Greek Optative, Greek Participles, Greek Periphrastic Constructions, Greek Prepositions, Greek Pronouns, Greek Subjunctive, Knox Theological Seminary, Koiné greek, Linkedin, Liquid Verbs, Luke Bobo, New Testament Beginning Greek Grammar, New Testament Greek, Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church Crestwood MO, Rev. Chris Smith, Rev. Robert Smart, Robert Wermuth, Wermuth' GREEKBOOK Preface, Wermuth's GREEKBOOK — A Systematic-Relational Beginning Grammar for the New Testament Greek Student, Wermuth's GREEKBOOK Table of Contents, Wermuth's GREEKBOOK Testimonials, WERMUTH'S GREEKBOOK WATERMARKED PDF

“Sipping” on Greek Participles

So . . . are you slipping on Greek participles when you’d rather be “sipping” on them instead? Here are some tips:

Greek Participles Defined

Participles are verbal adjectives. Being part verb, they have tense, voice and mode, while being part adjective, they also have (as do nouns and adjectives) gender, case, and number. As a result, the parsing of participles is represented through all six of these distinctions: tense, voice, mode, gender, case, and number (e.g., λύων ‒ Present, Active, Participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular).

Participles may be used “adjectivally” including as a substantive, when no antecedent noun is present. In these instances, as with all adjectives, they agree in gender, case, and number with the nouns or pronouns they modify. Used “adverbially,” participles may receive adverbial modifiers, and may take a direct object.

Declensions

Participles are declined in all three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The masculine active participle is declined like the 3^rd Declension masculine, lingual mute stem noun, ἄρχων.* The feminine active participle is declined like the 1^st Declension feminine noun, γλῶσσα (whose nominative singular ends in –α, and is not preceded by ε, ι, or ρ). The neuter active participle is declined like 3^rd Declension neuter nouns whose stems end in –ματ.

The middle and passive participle endings are declined like 2^nd Declension masculines and neuters; the feminine is declined like 1^st Declension feminine nouns whose nominative singular ends in -η. Remember Aorist Passive participles always use endings that are active in “appearance.” To get a more comprehensive “satellite view” of Greek Participles formation, click on each of the images, below.

Time

In circumstantial (temporal, adverbial) clauses, the time frame of the participle in translation is related to the tense and time frame of the leading (Indicative) verb. The Present participle is found where the action of the participle is represented as taking place at the same time as the action of the leading (Indicative) verb, regardless of when the action of the leading verb takes place. The action of the Aorist and Perfect participles denote action that has occurred prior to the action denoted by the leading (Indicative) verb, regardless of whether the action of the leading verb is represented as occurring in the past, present, or future. For more on translation of participles, both “Circumstantial” (temporal, adverbial) participles (i.e., those without a definite article), as well as “Articular” (adjectival) participles, see the post, “Participle = Verbal Adjective.” (Also see: Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK (pp. 68-69).

NOTE: It is imperative that the beginning Greek student learn the declension of the 3rd Declension* noun ἀρχῶν, ὁ (ruler). From this noun Present “active” participle endings are derived, and the noun’s stem (ἀρχ-) is replaced with a verbal stem (or, as I like to say in class, “We’re putting Noah back into the ‘ark’ [ἀρχ–] and sending him on a vacation.” The resultant verb stem + declined endings = a verbal-adjective, the grammatical description for a participle (e.g., λύων, λύοντος…).

Go to: Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK.com

Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK Now Available for Purchase as a Watermarked PDF!

Published in:

on March 13, 2010 at 12:18 pm Comments (3)
Tags: adverbial participles, attributive participles, circumstantial participles, gender of participles, Greek Participles, parsing Greek participles, temporal participles, tense of participles, verbal adjectives, voice of participles, Wermuth's GREEKBOOK

Another Peek at Greek: Taking a Look Inside “Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK”

This post is particularly for those of you who have searched the internet for things pertaining to New Testament Greek grammar which—while they are not necessarily among the postings I’ve blogged here—are included within the entire corpus of Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK—A Systematic-Relational Beginning Greek Grammar for the New Testament Greek Student.

To enable you to have “full disclosure” of what actually is embodied in my book, I have posted images (JPEGs) revealing the entire “Table of Contents,” which also includes the “Preface” with a background on how the book had its beginning, as well as comments to students and instructors of Greek, and finally a “Testimonials” section for your review. To enlarge the images below to maximum viewing size, please click twice on the image you desire to view—one click for a separate screen, the second for enlargement. For other “looks inside the book” and ordering information and options, go directly to: Wermuth’s GREEKBOOK.