THE AORIST TENSE

 

FORMATION:
The first (weak) aorist is formed by:
(1) augmenting the verb stem (same as for the imperfect)
(2) adding sigma to the verb stem
(3) adding first aorist endings to the resulting aorist stem.

The second (strong) aorist is formed by:
(1) altering the verb stem (this must be learned)
(2) augmenting the second aorist verb stem (same as for the imperfect)
(3) adding secondary endings to the verb stem (same as for the imperfect).

 

FIRST AORIST ENDINGS

ACTIVE
I
-sa
we
-samen
you (s)
-saj
you (pl)
-sate
he, she
-se(n)
they
-san
text place holder
MIDDLE
I
-sa&mhn
we
-sa&meqa
you (s)
-sw
you (pl)
-sasqe
he, she
-sato
they
-santo

CHANGES IN VERB STEM FOR THE FIRST AORIST (SAME AS FOR THE FUTURE)

  • Verb stems ending in a mute consonant alter as follows:

    the consonants
    writing
    e.g.
    p, b, f
    combine with s to become
    y
     

    ble/pw, e)/bleya

    tri/bw, e)/triya

    gra&fw, e)/graya

     

    k, g, x
    combine with s to become
    c
     

    dida&skw, e)/di/daca

    le/gw, e)/leca

    de/xomai, e)deca&mhn

     

    t, d, q, z
    drop out before s
     

    a#ptw, h#ya*

    speu&dw, e)/speu&sa

    pei/qw, e)/pei/sa

    h(suxa&zw, h(su&xasa

    nomi/zw, e)no&misa

    (*note that for this type of verb, t drops out and s combines with the p of the resulting stem)

     

  • Verbs stems ending in a liquid (l, m, n, r) sometimes alter their stems and add first aorist endings without s; e.g., ne/mw (present), e)/neima (first aorist); me/nw (present), e)/meina (first aorist); diafqei/rw (present), die/fqeira (first aorist).
  • Contract verbs lengthen the final vowel of the stem and add s; e.g., poie/w (present), e0poi/hsa (aorist); tima&w (present), e0ti/mhsa (aorist); dhlo&w (present), e0dh&lwsa (aorist).