Module 30

ἵημι and ἵστημι

The Verb

In Greek and in English verbs have the same definition and functions. Verbs are words that represent actions (throw) and states of being (be or exist). They differ in the same fundamental way that Greek nouns differ from their English counterparts: they use endings to create meaning in a way that English does not. The Greek verb (ῥῆμα) in its finite form has an ending that indicates what person and number the subject is. The Greek infinitive has an ending that indicates that it is unmarked for person and number.

The μι-Verbs ἵημι and ἵστημι

Though not as numerous as ω-verbs, μι-verbs occur frequently. μι-verbs conjugate differently from ω-verbs in some tenses, typically the present, imperfect, aorist, and sometimes the perfect. In conjugating these verb forms, learn which stem to combine with which ending. The stem is the base of the word to which the ending is joined. Once you have the correct stem and ending, combine them to create the correct form. You may memorize the stems and endings or you may learn how to combine stems and endings so that you can recognize the forms as you encounter them.

Present, Imperfect, and Aorist Tense Stems

Present and Imperfect Tense Stems

Use the long vowel grade stem for the singular and the short vowel grade for the plural. Note that the stems differ even within the same tense, mood, and voice.

Mixed Aorist Tense Stems

Root Aorist Tense Stem

Present, Imperfect, and Aorist Tense Endings

Add to the correct tense stem.

The Conjugation of ἵημι

The principal parts are these:

ἵημι ἥσω -ἧκα* -εἷκα -εἷμαι -εἷθην

1. Note that one asterisk* indicates a mixed aorist.
2. The dashes on principal parts three through six indicate that in the wild the forms are found with prefixes.

Remember that to conjugate correctly, you need to combine the correct stem with the correct endings.

Present Indicative Active of ἵημι

Singular: long vowel grade, ἱη- or ἱει- + primary active endings. Plural: short vowel grade, ἱε-, + primary active endings.

1. In the third person plural, ἱᾶσι (ν), epsilon ε, and alpha α, contract.

Present Infinitive Active of ἵημι

Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱε-, + -ναι.

1. Note that infinitives with the ending -ναι are ALWAYS accented on the penult. Thus, its accent is persistent. Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.

Present Indicative Middle of ἵημι

Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱε-, + primary middle and passive endings.

Present Infinitive Middle of ἵημι

Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱε-, + -σθαι.

1. Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.

Present Indicative Passive of ἵημι

Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱε-, + primary middle and passive endings.

Present Infinitive Passive of ἵημι

Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱε-, + -σθαι.

1. Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.

Imperfect Indicative Active of ἵημι

Singular: long vowel grade, ἱη- or ἱει- + past indicative augment + secondary active endings. Plural: short vowel grade, ἱε-, + past indicative augment + secondary active endings.

Imperfect Indicative Middle of ἵημι

Short vowel grade stem, ἱε-, + past indicative augment + secondary middle and passive endings.

Imperfect Indicative Passive of ἵημι

Short vowel grade stem, ἱε-, + past indicative augment + secondary middle and passive endings.

Aorist Indicative Active of ἵημι

Singular: ω-verb augmented stem, ἡκ-, + first aorist endings. Plural: short vowel grade stem, ἑ-, + past indicative augment, εἱ-, and secondary active endings.

Aorist Infinitive Active of ἵημι

Long vowel grade, εἱ-, + -ναι.

1. Note that infinitives with the ending -ναι are ALWAYS accented on the penult. Thus, its accent is persistent. Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.
2. Contrast εἷναι to hurl with εἶναι to be, noting that they differ only in breathing.

Aorist Indicative Middle of ἵημι

Short vowel grade, ἑ-, + past indicative augment, εἱ-, and secondary middle endings.

Aorist Infinitive Middle of ἵημι

Short vowel grade, ἑ-, + -σθαι.

Aorist Indicative Passive of ἵημι

ω-verb augmented consonant stem, -εἱθ-, + ω-verb passive endings.

Aorist Infinitive Passive of ἵημι

ω-verb unaugmented consonant stem, -ἑθ-, + -ηναι.

1. Note that infinitives with the ending -ναι are ALWAYS accented on the penult. Thus, its accent is persistent. Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.

The Conjugation of ἵστημι

The principal parts are these:

1. Note that two asterisks** indicate a first aorist and three*** indicate a root aorist.

Present Indicative Active of ἵστημι

Singular: long vowel grade, ἱστη-, + primary active endings. Plural: short vowel grade, ἱστα-, + primary active endings.

1. In the third person plural ἱστᾶσι (ν), the alphas, α + α, have contracted.

Present Infinitive Active of ἵστημι

Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱστα-, + -ναι.

1. Note that infinitives with the ending -ναι are ALWAYS accented on the penult. Thus, its accent is persistent. Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.

Present Indicative Middle of ἵστημι

Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱστα-, + primary middle and passive endings.

Present Infinitive Middle of ἵστημι

Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱστα- + -σθαι.

1. Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.

Present Indicative Passive of ἵστημι

Short vowel grade of the stem, ἵστα-, + primary middle and passive endings.

Present Infinitive Passive of ἵστημι

Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱστα-, + -σθαι.

1. Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.

Imperfect Indicative Active of ἵστημι

Singular: long vowel grade, ἱστη-, + past indicative augment and secondary active endings. Plural: short vowel grade, ἱστα-, + past indicative augment and secondary active endings.

Imperfect Indicative Middle of ἵστημι

Short vowel grade stem, ἵστα-, + past indicative augment and secondary middle and passive endings.

Imperfect Indicative Passive of ἵστημι

Short vowel grade stem, ἵστα-, + past indicative augment and secondary middle and passive endings.

Aorist Indicative Active of ἵστημι

Short vowel grade stem, στη-, + past indicative augment and secondary active endings.

Aorist Infinitive Active of ἵστημι

Long vowel grade, στη-, + -ναι.

1. Note that infinitives with the ending -ναι are ALWAYS accented on the penult. Thus, its accent is persistent. Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.

Aorist Indicative Passive of ἵστημι

ω-verb augmented consonant stem, ἐσταθ-, + ω-verb passive endings.

Aorist Infinitive Passive of ἵστημι

ω-verb unaugmented consonant stem, σταθ-, + -ηναι.

1. Note that infinitives with the ending -ναι are ALWAYS accented on the penult. Thus, its accent is persistent. Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.

Practice Translating Intransitive and Transitive Uses of ἵστημι. Remember that transitive verbs take an accusative direct object and intransitive verbs do not take a direct object. A common intransitive verb in Greek is ἔρχομαι. Translate the below sentences, adapted from a variety of ancient Greek writers. To come to an accurate understanding of the sentences, use your knowledge of endings and their functions. If you forget an ending or function, remember to use the Case and Function Chart in Appendix I and the Adjective, Adverb, Noun, and Pronoun Chart in Appendix VIII to assist you. After you finish translating these sentences, check your understanding with the answers in the Answer Key. After you have read though all of the sentences, read them again at least two more times. In each subsequent reading your understanding improves.

1. Ἀλκμήνης τόκος ἔστη σιωπῇ (Euripides, Herakles).
2. τροπαῖον ἔστησαν ἐν τῇ ἠπείρῳ (Thoukydides).
3. ἔστη ʼπὶ βωμοῦ γοργὸς ὁπλίτης ἰδεῖν (Euripides, Andromakhe).
4. ἔστη φαεννοῖς δεσπότης στίλβων ὅπλοις (Euripides, Andromakhe).
5. ἔστησαν ἀνδριάντα πρὸ τῶν πυλῶν (Demosthenes).
6. χαλκῆν εἰκόνα ἔστησαν (Demosthenes).
7. παρελθὼν πρέσβυς ἐς μέσον πέδον ἔστη (Euripides, Ion).
8. τὴν στήλην ἔστησαν εἰς τὸ βουλευτήριον (Lykourgos).
9. τὸ μὲν ἥμισυ τῶν νεῶν ἔστησαν ἐν μέσῃ τῇ θαλάσσῃ (Appian).
10. πᾶς στρατός τʼ ἔστη βλέπων (Euripides, Iphigeneia in Aulis).

Vocabulary

Practice Translating μι-verbs. Translate the below sentences and narrative, adapted from a variety of ancient Greek writers. To come to an accurate understanding of the sentences, use your knowledge of endings and of their functions. If you forget an ending or function, remember to use the Case and Function Chart in Appendix I and the Adjective, Adverb, Noun, and Pronoun Chart in Appendix VIII to assist you. After you finish translating the sentences, check your understanding with the answers in the Answer Key. After you have read though all of the sentences and all of the narrative, read them again at least two more times. In each subsequent reading your understanding improves.

1. ἀλλὰ θεοὶ γὰρ κακοῖς, ὦ φίλ᾽, ἐπὶ κρατερὴν τλημοσύνην ἔθεσαν φάρμακον· ἄλλοτε τ’ ἄλλος ἔχει τάδε (Arkhilokhos).
2. πάντα Τύχη καὶ Μοῖρα ἀνδρὶ διδόασιν ἀλλὰ καὶ δῆλον πάντα τεύχειν πόνον θνητοῖς μελέτην τε βροτείαν (Arkhilokhos).
3. oὔ μοι τὰ Γύγου τοῦ πολυχρύσου μέλει, μεγάλης δ᾽ οὐκ ἐράω τυραννίδος· ταῦτα ἀπόπροθεν γάρ ἐστι ὀφθαλμῶν ἐμῶν. δεῖ ἐμοὶ οἶνον παλαιὸν καὶ λόγον καλὸν καὶ σῖτον καὶ ἑταίραν ἔχειν (Arkhilokhos).
4. ἓν δὲ βέλτιστον, ὃς κακὰ ἐμὲ ἐποίησε, τοῦτον δέννοις ἀντιδοῦναι κακοῖς (Arkhilokhos).
5. τῶν θεῶν Ζεὺς μάντις ἀψευδέστατος καὶ τέλος τῶν πάντων αὐτὸς ἔχει καὶ πάντα θνητοῖς καὶ καλὰ καὶ κακὰ δίδωσιν.
6. βέλτιστα μηκέτ᾽ εἶναι νὴ Δία μήτε Πελοποννησίους μήτε Βοιωτίους πάντας πλὴν τῶν ἐγχέλεων (Aristophanes).
7. οὐ γὰρ τούτοις ἡδονὴ οἳ προτιθέασι βίαν ἀντὶ μήτιδος.
8. πολὺ κάλλιον τοὺς μὲν νόμους τοὺς ἄδικούς τε καὶ παλαιοὺς λῦσαι, ἑτέρους δὲ θεῖναι, οἵ τοὺς τῆς πόλεως φυλάξουσιν (Lysias).
9. οἳ καλῶς ἔχουσι τῇ πολιτείᾳ, τούτους μὲν τοὺς νόμους δεῖ θεῖναι, τοὺς δὲ οἳ αὐτῶν ὀλιγωροῦσι κολάζειν.
10. ἀγαθὸν ἱστάναι πρὸς ἀργύριον φιλίαν καὶ προτιθέναι τοὺς φίλους ἀντὶ τῶν χρημάτων.

Adverbs, Conjunctions, Prepositions, and Verbs

Adjectives and Nouns

1. The asterisk indicates the top 250 most frequently occurring vocabulary, which you are to memorize.

Practice Translating. Translate the sentences below, which have been adapted from Lucian’s The Lover of Lies (Φιλοψευδής). Remember the meanings and functions of the cases presented in Module 7. Use your memory to identify endings and their functions. If you forget an ending or a function, consult the Adjective, Adverb, Noun, and Pronoun Chart in Appendix VIII and the Case and Function Chart in Appendix I. Check your understanding with the translations in the Answer Key, making sure that you understand why each word translates as it does. Now go back and read each sentence two or three times, noticing with each rereading how much better your understanding of the sentence becomes. Make this a habit and you will improve quickly.

Adverbs, Prepositions, and Verbs

1. The asterisk indicates the top 250 most frequently occurring vocabulary, which you are to memorize.

Practice Parsing Greek Sentences. Parse each word of the sentences found below. For nouns and pronouns, give their case and function. For verbs, give their person, number, tense, mood, and voice. For adverbs and conjunctions, identify them. For prepositional phrases, give the preposition and the preposition’s object. For adjectives, tell what noun they agree with in gender, number, and case.

ὁρῶ ὅτι ταύτην μὲν οὖν χρὴ νομίζειν οὐ τὴν αἰτίαν τῶν πάντων κακῶν εἶναι.

δύνασαι ἄνθρωπον ποιεῖν ἐκ τοῦ ὑπέρου;

Check your answers with those in the Answer Key.

Sappho of Lesbos, Σαπφώ Λέσβου, c. 630–570 BCE. Regarded in antiquity as the tenth Muse, Sappho and her poetry are widely praised for their lyrical excellence. Time has taken from us most of what Sappho wrote and left to us even less information about her life. She is said to have had three brothers, two of whom, Kharaxos and Larikhos, she mentions in the poem below. This poem, preserved in writing on papyrus and referred to as the Brother’s Poem, was recently discovered. It was dug up by tomb raiders. From it, the classicist and papyrologist, Dirk Obbink reconstructed the Greek text. For a view of the fragment un-punctuated and not corrected, follow this link:

Sappho Poem.1

To Dirk Obbink’s text, I have added vocabulary, notes, and a translation.

Meter (__ = a long vowel; u = a short vowel; x = anceps, a long or short vowel):

__ u __ x __ u u __ u __ __

__ u __ x __ u u __ u __ __

__ u __ x __ u u __ u __ __

__ u u __ u

Variant Readings:

*δαίμον’ ἐκ πόνων ἐπ’ ἀρηγον’ ἤδη περτρόπην: turn their daimon away from toils toward a helper.

**αἴ κε τὰν κεφάλαν ἀέργης/ Λάριχος καὶ δή ποτ᾽ ἄνηρ γένηται: if lazy-headed Larikhos every really becomes a man.

Prose Translation

You constantly go on about Kharaxos coming home with a full ship. Things which, I think, Zeus and all the other gods know and which you need not think on. Rather send and order me to offer many a prayer to our royal Hera that Kharaxos return at the helm of a safe ship and find us sound. All the rest we entrust to the gods. For calm from great storms quickly ensues. Whosoever’s fate Olympian Zeus wishes now to turn from trouble to triumph, presently becomes fortunate and blessed. But for us, should Larikhos lift his head and ever really become a man, then surely right away we would be freed from great despair.

Module 30 Top 250 Vocabulary to be Memorized. Like learning the alphabet and endings, memorizing vocabulary is essential to acquiring language. The better you memorize the top 250 most frequently occurring vocabulary words the greater mastery of the language you will have.

Adjectives and Adverb

ἄν (adverb or particle) indicates something hypothetical, non-factual, or with the indicative something repeated over time

δύο two

ἕκαστος, ἑκάστη, ἕκαστον each

ἴσος, ἴση, ἴσον equal, as many as; similar to + dat.

καλός, καλή, καλόν beautiful, noble, good

ὅμοιος, ὁμοίᾱ, ὅμοιον like, resembling + dat.

τρεῖς, οἱ, αἱ; τρία τά three

Verb

ζάω (ζῇς, ζῇ), ζήσω, ἔζησα, ἔζηκα, ------, ------ live, breathe, be full of life