LESSON VII
The Future Active
The characteristic letter of the future tense is σ, inserted before the terminations that mark the persons, thus: λύω,I loosen; λύσω,I will; λύσεις,thou wilt; λύσει,he will; λύσομεν,we will; λύσετε,ye will; λύσουσι,they will loosen. Of course by inserting this σ, a preceding consonant, where the root is labial, uniting with it forms a ψ, as above in nouns (Lesson IV, 3); and in the same way, when the final vowel of the root is a palatal the κ or γ appears as ξ—so, from βλέπω,I see, βλέψω; from λέγω,I say, λέξω. But there are several variations, which will be learned by practice; the following are dominant:—
(α) Verbs with two consonants before the ω of the present eject the latter before inserting the σ, so that the π or φ of the root united with the σ becomes a ψ, as in τύπτω, τύψω; κόπτω,I cut, κόψω; σκάπτω,I dig, σκάψω; γράφω,I write, γράψω.(β) The same rule holds with many verbs in σσω, Attic ττω, the root ending in κ or γ, as πράσσω,I do, root πραγ, future πράξω; τάσσω,I arrange, τάξω.(γ) Verbs in άζω have either σω or ξω, or both, as θαυμάζω,I admire, θαυμάσω; νυστάζω,I nod, άσω or άξω; ἁρπάζω,to carry off, ξω, ἁρπάσομαι in Attic; βαστάζω,to carry, βαστάσω.(δ) Pure verbs generally lengthen the vowel of the present, α being changed into η, except where a vowel or λ precedes the άω, as—τιμάω,I honour, τιμήσω.φιλέω,I love, φιλήσω.δηλόω,I show, δηλώσω.But—κλάω,I break, κλάσω.κοπιάω,I labour at, κοπιάσω.But some in έω prefer έσω, as τελέω,I finish, τελέσω; τρέω,to tremble, τρέσω; ζέω,to boil, ζέσω.(ε) Liquid verbs shorten the long vowel of the root, or throw out the last of two consonants in the root, and lay a circumflex accent on the termination ω, as—μένω,I remain,μενῶ.σπείρω,I sow,σπερῶ.φαίνω,I show,φανῶ.βάλλω,I throw,βαλῶ.τέμνω,I cut,τεμῶ.
(α) Verbs with two consonants before the ω of the present eject the latter before inserting the σ, so that the π or φ of the root united with the σ becomes a ψ, as in τύπτω, τύψω; κόπτω,I cut, κόψω; σκάπτω,I dig, σκάψω; γράφω,I write, γράψω.
(β) The same rule holds with many verbs in σσω, Attic ττω, the root ending in κ or γ, as πράσσω,I do, root πραγ, future πράξω; τάσσω,I arrange, τάξω.
(γ) Verbs in άζω have either σω or ξω, or both, as θαυμάζω,I admire, θαυμάσω; νυστάζω,I nod, άσω or άξω; ἁρπάζω,to carry off, ξω, ἁρπάσομαι in Attic; βαστάζω,to carry, βαστάσω.
(δ) Pure verbs generally lengthen the vowel of the present, α being changed into η, except where a vowel or λ precedes the άω, as—
But some in έω prefer έσω, as τελέω,I finish, τελέσω; τρέω,to tremble, τρέσω; ζέω,to boil, ζέσω.
(ε) Liquid verbs shorten the long vowel of the root, or throw out the last of two consonants in the root, and lay a circumflex accent on the termination ω, as—
νῦν δὴ φοβεῖς με· δεινὸς ὡς ἀληθῶς ὁ χρόνος οὗτος ὁ τοῦ μέλλοντος,now indeed you frighten me; this future tense is terrible.γέλοια λέγεις· οὐκ ἐάσω σε τὰ τοιαῦτα λέγειν·λέγε μᾶλλον τὸ τῆς παροιμίας, χαλεπὰ τὰ καλά,ridiculous; I will not permit you to speak thus; say rather,as the proverb has it, all excellent things are difficult.λέξω,I will say so.ἔχε πίστιν,have faith.πιστεύσω καὶ νῑκήσω,I will believe and conquer.αἰνέσει σε ὁ πατήρ,your father will praise you.οὐδὲν διστάζω,I do not doubt it.ἀνδρικὸν δηλώσεις θυμόν,you will show a manly spirit.βλέψω ἀνδρικῶς πρὸς τὸν διάβολον καὶ οὐ τρέσω,I will look manfully in the face of the devil and not tremble.τί σκάπτει ὁ φύσκων ἐκεῖνος ἐν τῷ λειμῶνι;what is that paunchy fellow digging at in the meadow?σκάπτει τάφρον,he is digging a trench.σκάπτει τοὺς θεμελίους λαμπροῦ οἰκήματος,he is digging the foundations of a grand house.οὐδαμῶς· τὸν τοιοῦτον οὐ θαυμάσομεν,not at all; such a fellow we will not admire.ἰδιώτης ἐστί· πόνον μὲν ἔχει, τέχνην δὲ οὔ· κόψει ποτὲ τὸνἴδιον δάκτυλον τῇ μαχαίρᾳ, καὶ δὴ καὶ τὸν ἴδιον αὐτὸς ἑαυτοῦσκάψει τάφον· τοιοῦτο γὰρ δὴ φιλεῖ γίνεσθαι τὸ τῶν ἀπαιδεύτων τέλος,he is a bungler. He has labour, but no skill.He will cut his finger with his knife some day, and dig his own grave.Such is wont to be the end of the unlearned.
νῦν δὴ φοβεῖς με· δεινὸς ὡς ἀληθῶς ὁ χρόνος οὗτος ὁ τοῦ μέλλοντος,now indeed you frighten me; this future tense is terrible.
γέλοια λέγεις· οὐκ ἐάσω σε τὰ τοιαῦτα λέγειν·λέγε μᾶλλον τὸ τῆς παροιμίας, χαλεπὰ τὰ καλά,ridiculous; I will not permit you to speak thus; say rather,as the proverb has it, all excellent things are difficult.
λέξω,I will say so.
ἔχε πίστιν,have faith.
πιστεύσω καὶ νῑκήσω,I will believe and conquer.
αἰνέσει σε ὁ πατήρ,your father will praise you.
οὐδὲν διστάζω,I do not doubt it.
ἀνδρικὸν δηλώσεις θυμόν,you will show a manly spirit.
βλέψω ἀνδρικῶς πρὸς τὸν διάβολον καὶ οὐ τρέσω,I will look manfully in the face of the devil and not tremble.
τί σκάπτει ὁ φύσκων ἐκεῖνος ἐν τῷ λειμῶνι;what is that paunchy fellow digging at in the meadow?
σκάπτει τάφρον,he is digging a trench.
σκάπτει τοὺς θεμελίους λαμπροῦ οἰκήματος,he is digging the foundations of a grand house.
οὐδαμῶς· τὸν τοιοῦτον οὐ θαυμάσομεν,not at all; such a fellow we will not admire.
ἰδιώτης ἐστί· πόνον μὲν ἔχει, τέχνην δὲ οὔ· κόψει ποτὲ τὸνἴδιον δάκτυλον τῇ μαχαίρᾳ, καὶ δὴ καὶ τὸν ἴδιον αὐτὸς ἑαυτοῦσκάψει τάφον· τοιοῦτο γὰρ δὴ φιλεῖ γίνεσθαι τὸ τῶν ἀπαιδεύτων τέλος,he is a bungler. He has labour, but no skill.He will cut his finger with his knife some day, and dig his own grave.Such is wont to be the end of the unlearned.
English Affinities
Hydrophobia. Chronology. Chronic. Andrew. Idiot. Penury. Technical. Polytechnic. Idiosyncrasy. Paedeutics.