Future Indicative Verbs
The future indicative is one of the standard tenses in Koine Greek. It is primarily used to indicate an action that will occur in the future. The verb λύω ("I loose, release") is often used to demonstrate conjugation in the active, middle, and passive voices.
Usage of the Future Indicative
- Predictive Future – describing something that will happen. Example: καὶ σωθήσῃ (John 3:21) — "and you will be saved."
- Imperatival Future – expressing a command in future form. Example: οὐ φονεύσεις — "You shall not kill."
- Deliberative Future – expressing a rhetorical question about the future. Example: τί ποιήσω; — "What shall I do?"
Future Indicative Paradigms
Active Voice
| Person | Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | λύσω | λύσομεν | I/we will loose |
| 2nd | λύσεις | λύσετε | you (sg./pl.) will loose |
| 3rd | λύσει | λύσουσι(ν) | he/she/it/they will loose |
Middle Voice
| Person | Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | λύσομαι | λυσόμεθα | I/we will loose (for ourselves) |
| 2nd | λύσῃ | λύσεσθε | you (sg./pl.) will loose (for yourselves) |
| 3rd | λύσεται | λύσονται | he/she/it/they will loose (for themselves) |
Passive Voice
Note: The future passive uses the tense marker -θησ-.
| Person | Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | λυθήσομαι | λυθησόμεθα | I/we will be loosed |
| 2nd | λυθήσῃ | λυθήσεσθε | you (sg./pl.) will be loosed |
| 3rd | λυθήσεται | λυθήσονται | he/she/it/they will be loosed |
Key Notes
- Formation: The future is formed by adding the σ tense marker between the verb stem and the personal endings. Example: λυ + σ + ω → λύσω.
- Middle vs Passive: In the future, middle and passive are different paradigms (unlike some other tenses where they overlap).
- Contract Verbs (verbs ending in -αω, -εω, -οω) follow similar rules, but the vowel contracts with the tense marker.
- Irregular Futures: Some common verbs have irregular future forms (e.g., ἔρχομαι → ἐλεύσομαι "I will come").