Present Indicative Verbs
The present tense in Greek is not primarily about time but about aspect—the type of action being portrayed. Time reference (present, past, future) comes mostly from context.
- Progressive Present: Expresses action as ongoing or unfolding in real time. Example: "I am writing..." (γράφω).
- Iterative Present: Conveys a habitual or repeated action. Example: "He often says..." (λέγει in a context of repeated speech).
- Historical Present: Used in narrative to describe past events vividly in the present tense. Often occurs with verbs of speech (λέγω) or motion (ἔρχομαι). Creates dramatic immediacy, as though the event is happening before your eyes.
Present Indicative Paradigms
The verb λύω illustrates the standard paradigm for regular present indicative endings:
Active
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | λύω | λύομεν |
| 2nd | λύεις | λύετε |
| 3rd | λύει | λύουσι(ν) |
Middle/Passive
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | λύομαι | λύόμεθα |
| 2nd | λύῃ | λύεσθε |
| 3rd | λύεται | λύονται |
Active Voice
-
Singular
- 1st: λύω — I am loosing
- 2nd: λύεις — you are loosing
- 3rd: λύει — he/she/it is loosing
-
Plural
- 1st: λύομεν — we are loosing
- 2nd: λύετε — y'all are loosing
- 3rd: λύουσι(ν) — they are loosing
The (ν) at the end of λύουσι(ν) is called a movable nu. Be aware that it is not always present.
Middle / Passive Voice
In the present tense, middle and passive forms share the same endings. The context determines whether the meaning is middle ("I loose for myself") or passive ("I am being loosed").
-
Singular
- 1st: λύομαι — I loose for myself / I am being loosed
- 2nd: λύῃ — you loose for yourself / you are being loosed
- 3rd: λύεται — he/she/it looses for himself/herself / is being loosed
-
Plural
- 1st: λυόμεθα — we loose for ourselves / we are being loosed
- 2nd: λύεσθε — y'all loose for yourselves / are being loosed
- 3rd: λύονται — they loose for themselves / are being loosed
Key Points
-
Endings are the markers of person and number:
- Active: -ω, -εις, -ει, -ομεν, -ετε, -ουσι(ν)
- Middle/Passive: -ομαι, -ῃ, -εται, -όμεθα, -εσθε, -ονται
- The present tense stem (λύ-) stays consistent, and endings attach directly.
- Contract verbs (ending in -αω, -εω, -οω) are additional verbs that follow the same pattern but with vowel contraction. This will be covered in a later lesson.