Language/Modern-greek-1453/Grammar/Participle-spelling
Introduction: The Greek language is known for its complex grammar and extensive conjugation patterns. In this lesson, we will focus on the spelling of the participle in modern Greek, which is an essential part of the language's verb system. We will explore the different types of participles, their formation, and their uses in context.
Once you've made sense of this lesson, you may be interested in exploring these associated areas: Verb To Be, The predicate, Particularities of: Πώς, πως, πού, που, ή, η & Verbes elliptiques, impersonnels et irréguliers.
Types of Participles: The modern Greek language has three types of participles:[edit | edit source]
- The present participle of the active voice: This participle is formed by adding the ending "-οντας" (-ontas) to the stem of the verb in the present tense. For example, the verb "λέγω-λέω" (leo) means "I say". The present participle of this verb is "λέγοντας" (legontas), which means "saying".
- The present participle of the passive voice: This participle is formed by adding the ending "-όμενος" (-omenos) to the stem of the verb in the present tense. For example, the verb "γράφω" (graffo) means "I write". The present participle of this verb is "γραφόμενος, -η, -ο" (grafomenos), participle present of the passive voice, which means "being written".
- The perfect present participle of the passive voice: This participle is formed by adding the ending "-μένος" (-menos) to the stem of the verb in the perfect tense. For example, the verb "ακούω" (akouo) means "I hear". The perfect present participle in passive voice of this verb is "ακουσμένος,-η,-ο" (akousmenos), which means "having been heard"
Formation and Spelling of Participles:[edit | edit source]
The formation of participles depends on the tense and voice of the verb. The present participle of the active voice is formed by adding the ending "-οντας" (-ontas) to the stem of the verb in the present tense. The present participle of the passive voice is formed by adding the ending "-όμενος" (-omenos) to the stem of the verb in the present tense. The perfect present participle of the passive voice is formed by adding the ending "-μένος" (-menos) to the stem of the verb in the perfect tense.
In terms of spelling, it's important to note that some verbs have irregular spelling in their participles. For example, the verb "παίρνω" (perno) means "I take". The present participle of this verb is "παίρνοντας" (pernontas), which has an irregular spelling. Another example is the verb "φέρνω" (ferno) means "I bring". The present participle of this verb is "φέροντας" (ferontas), which also has an irregular spelling.
Uses of Participles: The participle (μετοχή) is a verbal adjective, in part a verb, in part an adjective, and has both voice and tense. As an adjective, it is declined and agrees with a noun or pronoun, attributively, with or without the article, as a predicate, belonging to either subject or object.
In terms of its use in context, the participle is often used to create complex sentences and provide additional information about the action or state described by the main verb. For example, "Ο γιατρός διαβάζοντας το φάκελο, έδωσε τη συνταγή." (O giatros diavazontas to fakelo, edose ti syntagi), which means "The doctor, while reading the folder, gave the prescription". In this sentence, "διαβάζοντας" (diavazontas) is the present participle of the verb "διαβάζω" (diavazo), which means "I read". The participle "διαβάζοντας" (diavazontas) provides additional information about the action of the doctor, who was reading the folder while giving the prescription.
Participles can also be used in combination with auxiliary verbs to form compound tenses, such as the present perfect tense, the past perfect tense, and the future perfect tense. For example, "Έχω διαβάσει το βιβλίο" (Eho diavasei to vivlio), which means "I have read the book". In this sentence, "διαβάσει" (diavasei) is the perfect present participle of the verb "διαβάζω" (diavazo), used in combination with the auxiliary verb "έχω" (eho), which means "I have".
The participle is written with «ο» when no accent occurs on the penultimate syllable and with «ώ» when the accent is on the penultimate syllable.e.g. «λέγοντας», «τρώγοντας» and «μιλώντας», «τραγουδώντας». |
Verb spelling - present endings[edit | edit source]
Verbs eding in : | are written with | Examples | Exceptions |
---|---|---|---|
-άβο / -αύω | β | Ανάβω : ignite, turn on
θάβω : bury Ράβω : sew |
Παύω : cease
Ψαύω : finger (ψηλαφώ, αγγίζω) |
-έβο /-εύω | ευ | Κινδυνεύω: be in danger
παλεύω : struggle, wrestle |
Κλέβω : steal
Σέβομαι : respect |
-έο /-έω | αι | Κλαίω : cry
Φταίω : wrong Καίω : burn |
Αναπνέω : respire
Λέω : tell Πλέω : float Ρέω :flow |
-ένο /-αίνω | αι | μπαίνω :enter
βγαίνω : exit ανεβαίνω : ascend |
Δένω : tie
Πλένω : wash μένω :I remain |
-έρνο / -έρνω | ε | Γδέρνω : flay
Φέρνω : bring |
Παίρνω : take |
-έρο /-αίρω | αι | Χαίρω : nice
Συγχαίρω : congratulation Εξαίρω : glorify |
Ξέρω : know
Φέρω : bring, fetch |
-ιάζο / -ιάζω | ι | Αγκαλιάζω : embrace
Νευριάζω : nervous Βιάζομαι : hurry |
Μοιάζω : resemble
Αδειάζω : evacuate Χρειάζομαι : need νοιάζομαι : care |
The verbs ending in -ίζω form the participle
with endings in -ισμένος, -ισμένη, -ισμένο. -ίζο / -ίζω |
ι | ποτίζω : water, irrigate
γεμίζω : fill |
δακρύζω : shed tears
γογγύζω : grouch, growl δανείζω: lend, αθροίζω αθροίζω : sum up πήζω : congeal, set, etc |
-λο / -λλω | λλ | ανατέλλω : rise, as for the sun
αναβάλλω : postpone |
Θέλω : want
Οφείλω : owe etc |
(with a single –λ– in simple past
and in all the tenses which are formed based on simple past’s root) -λό / -λώ |
λ | Αμελώ : let slide
Γελώ : laugh Καλώ : called |
Κολλώ : adhere |
The verbs ending in -ώνω form the participle with
endings in -ωμένος, -ωμένη, -ωμένο. -όνο / -ώνω |
-ω | σιδερώνω (iron) –> σιδερωμένος
τελειώνω : finish λερώνω : sully θυμώνω : get angry |
|
-σο /-σσω | σσ |
Παρατάσσω : array, deploy |
Αρέσω : be liked |
-το / -ττω | ττ | Εισπράττω : collect
διαπράττω : perpetrate |
Θέτω : pose
Κείτομαι : repose |
-ίνο |
-ίνω -ήνω -ύνω
|
Δίνω:, give, κλίνω :
Αφήνω : let go αμβλύνω : dull απομακρύνω : remove |
|
-είνω |
Κλείνω : close Τείνω : tend |
Author[edit source]
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Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- The degrees of the adjective
- Verbes elliptiques, impersonnels et irréguliers
- Pronouns
- The combinations «αυ» and «ευ»
- Les numéraux ordinaux cardinaux
- Negative Sentence
- Questions
- Contract Verbs
- Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
- Word Accentuation