Present Indicative: Active, Middle, and Passive Voices
Introduction to the Study of Verbs
Just like in Portuguese, verbal forms in the Greek language are characterized by having:
• An invariable part: the root (stem) of the verb, which gives it meaning.
• A variable part: the ending – which indicates the person, the subject of the verb (1st, 2nd, 3rd person singular and plural). In addition, the ending also indicates whether the verb is in the active, middle, or passive voice.
There is a vowel that connects the stem to the ending, also called the thematic vowel. In the case of the Greek language, a long vowel (η / ω) can indicate that the verb is in the Subjunctive Mood.
Comparative Example (Portuguese): Verb To Free
| Person | Verbal Form | Stem | Ending |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | liberto | libert- | -o |
| 2nd sg | libertas | libert- | -as |
| 3rd sg | liberta | libert- | -a |
| 1st pl | libertamos | libert- | -amos |
| 2nd pl | libertais | libert- | -ais |
| 3rd pl | libertam | libert- | -am |
It is fundamental when reading a text that we can identify these two parts in verbal forms: the stem (meaning) and the ending (person/tense/voice). In Greek dictionaries, verbs are presented in the first person singular of the present indicative active voice (a form ending in ω).
Present Indicative Active Voice
Verbs conjugated in this tense normally express actions that are occurring at the moment, or that are customary, habitual, and repetitive. The paradigm (model) used is the verb λύω (to loose, to free).
| Person | Greek | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | λύω | I free (I am freeing) |
| 2nd sg | λύεις | you free (you are freeing) |
| 3rd sg | λύει | he/she/it frees (is freeing) |
| 1st pl | λύομεν | we free (we are freeing) |
| 2nd pl | λύετε | you free (you are freeing) |
| 3rd pl | λύουσιν | they free (they are freeing) |
Examples of the Verb πιστεύω (To Believe) in the NT
• Πιστεύω, κύριε· (John 9:38) → I believe, Lord.
• Σὺ πιστεύεις εἰς τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; (John 9:35) → Do you believe in the Son of Man?
• (Ἡ ἀγάπη ...) πάντα πιστεύει (1 Cor 13:7) → Love believes all things.
• ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν, διὸ καὶ λαλοῦμεν (2 Cor 4:13) → We believe, therefore we also speak.
• πιστεύετε εἰς τὸν θεόν (John 14:1) → You believe in God.
• τινες ... οὐ πιστεύουσιν (John 6:64) → Some do not believe.
The Verb εἰμί (To Be)
This verb presents irregular forms compared to the λύω pattern. It is essential to memorize it due to its high frequency.
| Person | Greek | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | εἰμί | I am |
| 2nd sg | εἶ | you are |
| 3rd sg | ἐστίν | he/she/it is |
| 1st pl | ἐσμέν | we are |
| 2nd pl | ἐστέ | you are |
| 3rd pl | εἰσίν | they are |
Contract Verbs
Some verbs have stems ending in α, ε, or ο. When meeting the ending vowel, a contraction occurs. See the patterns:
Stem in α (ἀγαπάω → I love)
| Person | Contraction | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | α + ω = ω | ἀγαπῶ | I love |
| 2nd sg | α + ει = ᾳ | ἀγαπᾷς | you love |
| 3rd sg | α + ει = ᾳ | ἀγαπᾷ | he/she/it loves |
| 1st pl | α + ο = ω | ἀγαπῶμεν | we love |
| 2nd pl | α + ε = α | ἀγαπᾶτε | you love |
| 3rd pl | α + ου = ω | ἀγαπῶσι(ν) | they love |
Stem in ε (λαλέω → I speak)
| Person | Contraction | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | ε + ω = ω | λαλῶ | I speak |
| 2nd sg | ε + ει = ει | λαλεῖς | you speak |
| 3rd sg | ε + ει = ει | λαλεῖ | he/she/it speaks |
| 1st pl | ε + ο = ου | λαλοῦμεν | we speak |
| 2nd pl | ε + ε = ει | λαλεῖτε | you speak |
| 3rd pl | ε + ου = ου | λαλοῦσι(ν) | they speak |
Stem in ο (δικαιóω → I justify)
| Person | Contraction | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | ο + ω = ω | δικαιῶ | I justify |
| 2nd sg | ο + ει = οι | δικαιοῖς | you justify |
| 3rd sg | ο + ει = οι | δικαιοῖ | he/she/it justifies |
| 1st pl | ο + ο = ου | δικαιοῦμεν | we justify |
| 2nd pl | ο + ε = ου | δικαιοῦτε | you justify |
| 3rd pl | ο + ου = ου | δικαιοῦσι(ν) | they justify |
Middle and Passive Voices
Passive Voice: The subject receives the action. E.g., 'The blind man is healed by Jesus'. The focus shifts from the doer to the receiver of the action.
Middle Voice: There is no exact equivalent in Portuguese. The subject performs the action in their own interest or with special involvement. Do not necessarily confuse this with the reflexive use (to wash oneself).
In the Present Indicative, the forms of the Middle Voice and the Passive Voice are identical. Context will determine the correct translation.
| Person | Greek | Mid. Transl. | Pass. Transl. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | λύομαι | I free (for myself) | I am freed |
| 2nd sg | λύῃ | you free (for yourself) | you are freed |
| 3rd sg | λύεται | he/she/it frees (for themselves) | he/she/it is freed |
| 1st pl | λυόμεθα | we free | we are freed |
| 2nd pl | λύεσθε | you free | you are freed |
| 3rd pl | λύονται | they free | they are freed |
Deponent Verbs
These are verbs that do not have an active form, only middle or passive, but their meaning is active. They are identified in dictionaries by the ending -ομαι. E.g., ἔρχομαι (I go, I come).
Vocabulário do Capítulo
- ἀγαπάω: I love (verb to love)
- εἰμί: I am (verb to be)
- ἔρχομαι: I go, I come
- λαλέω: I speak (verb to speak)
- λαμβάνω: I take, I receive
- ποιέω: I do, I make (verb to do/make)
- ἄνθρωπος, ὁ: man, human
- βασιλεία, ἡ: kingdom
- εὐαγγέλιον, τό: gospel, good news
- ζωή, ἡ: life
- θεός, ὁ: God
- κύριος, ὁ: Lord; lord
- νόμος, ὁ: law
- ὄχλος, ὁ: crowd, multitude
- Χριστός, ὁ: Christ, Messiah, Anointed One
ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν, διὸ καὶ λαλοῦμεν
(We believe, therefore we also speak — 2 Corinthians 4:13)