Notes On Koine Greek: Part 36

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1. Primary & Secondary Tenses: In the previous two installations of these

“Notes”, I have been looking at the Imperfect & Aorist Active Indicative
paradigms. Here, I want to build on those ideas. I will start by discussing the fact
that in Koine Greek, the entire verbal system is divided into two “tense”
subsystems: Primary & Secondary. In general, the primary tense subsystem is
related to the present and future tenses. The secondary tense subsystem deals
with the past tense (or, historical tense). The important thing we need to take
note of here is: Greek has a different set of person-number suffix morphemes for
the primary tenses than for the secondary tenses!!!
2. Primary & Secondary Active Suffix Morphemes : Here, we see three
tables, the one on the left dealing with the primary tense and therefore containing
primary active suffix morphemes. The one on the center and the one right are
related to the secondary tense and as such, contain secondary active suffix
morphemes:

Primary Tense Subsystem Secondary Tense Subsystem Secondary Tense Subsystem

Present/Future Active Indicative Imperfect Active Indicative Aorist Active Indicative

SG PL SG PL SG PL
1 w men 1 n men 1 sa samen
2 eij te 2 j te 2 saj sate
3 ei ousi (n) 3 - n 3 - n / san

*Tips: A) Take note of the similarities between the plural columns in each paradigm; B) Take note of the 3rd Person Sg.
in the Secondary Tense subsystems as they contain no suffix morpheme; C) Take note of “sa” in the Aorist Active
Indicative paradigm as it has no “n” (nu) attached to it. This is a grammatical exception and should be remembered as
such; D) Recall the “Neutral Morpheme Rule” when working with these subsystems and their various paradigms.

3. Aoristic Amalgamation: When working with the Secondary Tense

subsystems, we often encounter amalgamation, which has been touched on more
in depth in section 5 of these “Notes” with the Pres. Act. Ind. In the Aorist
paradigm, amalgamation works the same exact way. So, be sure to know the
Amalgamation Table. More will be said about the formation of the Aorist in the
next section of my “Notes”.
p +s = y
Note: 1 mnemonic device to help b +s = y
AMALGAMATION
remember this table may be in
f +s = y TABLE
noticing that in all 3 sets, the 1st and
3rd letters are similar (e.g. P & Ph / K k+s = x
& Ch / T & Th) g +s = x
c+s = x
NOTE: You may find it
Note that in these 3 the t +s = s helpful to remember this
letter is actually “dropping d +s = s table in 3 groups, according
out” before the sigma. to the final amalgamated
q+s = s letter.