Koine Greek:Verbs - Perfect Tense

Synopsis: The Perfect Tense is a tense of verbs in Koine Greek.

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The Perfect Tense is a tense of verbs in Koine Greek. It is usually used to show that a past event has occurred with present ongoing consequences. For example, λελυκεν is translated as "he has destroyed".

In most cases, the perfect form of a verb is created by adding a reduplication prefix (as shown below) and a specific ending.

Forming the Perfect Active Indicative

Using the verb λυω (I destroy), the forms are

• λελυκαν - First Person Singular Perfect Active Indicative - I have destroyed
• λελυκας - Second Person Singular Perfect Active Indicative - You have destroyed
• λελυκε(ν) - Third Person Singular Perfect Active Indicative - He has destroyed
• λελυκαμεν - First Person Plural Perfect Active Indicative - We have destroyed
• λελυκατε - Second Person Plural Perfect Active Indicative - You have destroyed
• λελυκασι(ν) - Third Person Plural Perfect Active Indicative - They have destroyed

Reduplication

A verb in the perfect tense begins with a prefix that is formed by taking the first letter of the verb (for example: λ in λυω, and adding an ε). Hence the reduplication prefix for λυω is λε and the reduplication prefix for γραφω is γε

There are numerous exceptions to this rule.

For certain starting letters of the verb, the reduplication prefix changes from what would be expected.

• θ -> τε
• χ -> κε
• φ -> πε

For many (but not all) verbs starting with σ, the reduplication is a single ε. This is not called an augment.

For verbs starting with a vowel, the vowel lengthens, rather than reduplication occurring.

• α -> η
• ε -> η
• ο -> ω
• αι -> η
• ει -> η
• οι -> ω
• αυ -> ηυ
• ευ -> ηυ

Some verbs are irregular.

Ending with a κ

Following the stem of the vowel is a κ which is then followed by the specific ending. Hence, a perfect active verb can be recognized by the presence of reduplication and a κ.

For contract verbs (εω, αω and οω verbs) the final vowel undergoes a lengthening prior to the κ+ending being added - α becomes η, ε becomes η and ο becomes ω

Verbs ending with τ or θ or δ or ζ drop the last letter before adding the κ

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