lesson 2

Question 1

Thematic verbs

Answer 1

All –ω verbs have a sort of buffer sound just before the verb’s ending. This buffer is a vowel sound called the THEMATIC VOWEL.

This thematic vowel, usually an ο or ε, blends with the verb ending in a stable, consistent way, so you actually learn the thematic vowel and the personal ending together as one combined personal ending.

The good news is that the thematic vowel keeps the verb ending stable.

Question 2

Compound verbs

Answer 2

In Greek you can make COMPOUND VERBS from simple verbs like βαίνω by adding a prefix. We have seen some examples of this:

εἰσ βαίνω =’I go into, on board’ (‘into-go-I’)

The endings for these compound verbs are the same as for simple βαίνω. Look out for compounds of other simple Greek verbs you meet. The basic meaning is usually close to, but different from, that of the simple verb. Cf. English ‘import’, ‘export’, ‘transport’, ‘deport’, ‘report’, etc.

Question 3

IMPERATIVE
Ordering someone not to

Answer 3

Βαίνε = ‘go!”

Βαΐν-ετε = ‘go!”

In Greek, to make an imperative negative, i.e. to tell someone NOT to do something, put μή before the imperative:

μὴ βαῖνε =’do not go!” (s.)

Question 4

Prepositions

Answer 4

PREPOSITIONS are words like ‘in, on, below, towards, to,’ followed by a noun e.g house.
They can indicate place or movement
They can express a relationship in terms of time
They can indicate something more abstract like cause

In Greek, they are always followed by a noun or pronoun in the same case.
When a preposition is followed by a particular case, it taken on that case.
When a noun or pronoun goes into this case because of a preposition it is said to ‘govern’ the case. Some prepositions may govern more than one case.

Question 5

Particles

Answer 5

PARTICLES are words which cannot be directly translated and often indicate gesture, intonation, facial expression or attitude. There are 3 types.

First position particles - go first in the sentence or clause they belong to.
Postpositive particles go second in the sentence or clause to which they belong.
enclitics

Question 6

enclitics

Answer 6

Enclitics - Words with accents but they give them to the previous word if possible.