Language/Modern-greek-1453/Grammar/Participles
As a continuation of our advanced grammar lessons in Modern Greek (1453-), today I will be discussing participles and their use in the Greek language.
Participles are a form of a verb that can be used as an adjective or a noun. In Greek, participles are formed by adding certain suffixes to the verb stem. There are three types of participles in Greek: the present participle, the perfect participle, and the future participle.
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Personal Pronouns & The spelling of the verbs (–λλ or –λ).
Present Participle[edit | edit source]
The present participle in Greek is formed by adding the suffix -ων to the verb stem. This participle is used to show an ongoing action or a current state. Here are a few examples:
| Modern Greek (1453-) | Greek transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| λέγων | légon | say |
| τρέχων | tréchon | running |
| καθισμένος | kathismènos | sitting |
| φωτίζων | fotízon | illuminating |
As you can see from these examples, the present participle is used to describe a person or thing that is currently performing an action.
Perfect Participle[edit | edit source]
The perfect participle in Greek is formed by adding the suffix -υκώς to the verb stem. This participle is used to show a completed action in the past that continues to have an effect in the present. Here are a few examples:
| Modern Greek (1453-) | Greek transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| γραμμένος | gramménos | written |
| δοθείς | dotheís | given |
| τραγουδημένος & τραγουδισμένος | tragoudimenοs | sung |
As you can see from these examples, the perfect participle is used to describe a person or thing that has already completed an action but still has an effect in the present.
- Future Participle
The future participle in Greek is formed by adding the suffix -ούμενος to the verb stem. This participle is used to show a future action. Here are a few examples:
| Modern Greek (1453-) | Greek transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| θαυμαστός | thavmastós | admirable |
| προσεγμένος | prosegme̱nos | attentive |
| συναντώμενος | synantithoúmenos | to meet (in the present) * |
| καρποφορούντα | karpoforoúnta | bearing fruit (accus. Present. /
voice activ.)** |
As you can see from these examples, the future participle is used to describe a person or thing that will perform an action in the future.
- there is no future Participle
** there is no future Participle
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In conclusion, participles are an important part of the Greek language and can be used to add more depth and detail to your writing or speech. By using participles correctly, you can create more complex and nuanced sentences that better express your meaning.
Remember to practice using participles in your own speech and writing to improve your Greek language skills. And as always, stay curious and keep learning!
Sources[edit | edit source]
Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: Pronouns and verbs & Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Subject Verb Agreement
- The use of uppercase and lowercase
- Imperative Mood in Greek
- The spelling of the verbs (–λλ or –λ)
- Les numéraux ordinaux cardinaux
- Word Accentuation
- Nouns
- Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
- Prepositions and conjunctions
- The comma