The subjunctive describes what may or might be, rather than what is. In English often the subjunctive is an if clause:
If I had studied the Greek text, I would have passed the exam. Its use is to show potentiality whether probability or possibility (Wallace).
The subjunctive has only one aspect.
The subjunctive can be present and indicate a continouse action, or aorist indicating undefined action (ie the aspect of the verb). Other than ten occurrences of perfect active subjunctive forms of ο ἶδα, (εἰδῶ twice, εἰδῇς once, εἰδῶμεν once, and εἰδῆτε six times) all subjunctives in the Greek New Testament
are either present or aorist.
Formation
Present subjunctive:
Present tense stem + Lengthened connecting vowel (ω/η) + Primary personal ending
Aorist subjunctive:
Unaugmented aorist tense stem + (Tense formative +) Lengthened connecting vowel (ω/η) + primary personal ending
Identifying a subjunctive
-
Look for ἵνα, ἐάν or
ἂν
-
Is the connecting vowel lengthened (ω/η)?
-
Is the aorist missing an augment?
-
Look for the following clues:
ὃταν (ὄτε + ἂν) |
whenever |
ἐάν (εἰ + ἂν) |
if |
ὃς ἂν |
whoever |
ὃπου ἄν |
wherever |
ἓως |
until |
ἓως ἄν |
until |
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Master Nonindicative Verb Chart
Verb Tense |
Aug/
Red |
Tense Stem |
Tense
Form |
Con Vowel |
Primary
Pers End |
Pdg |
Pres Active |
|
Pres |
|
ω/η |
Act |
λύω |
P Mid+Pass |
|
Pres |
|
ω/η |
Mid/Pass |
λύωμαι |
1st Ao Act |
|
Aor Act |
σ(α) |
ω/η |
Act |
λύσω |
1st Ao Mid |
|
Aor Act |
σ(α) |
ω/η |
Mid/Pass |
λύσωμαι |
1st Ao Pass |
|
Aor Pass |
θ(η) |
ω/η |
Act |
λυθῶ |
2nd Ao Act |
|
Aor Act |
|
ω/η |
Act |
λάβω |
2nd Ao Mid |
|
Aor Act |
|
ω/η |
Mid/Pas |
γένωμαι |
2nd Ao Pass |
|
Aor Pass |
|
ω/η |
Act |
γράφω |
Lengthened connecting vowel ~ο → ω, ~ε → η;
All personal endings are PRIMARY; Look for ἄν in any of its combinations: ὅταν(ὅτε + ἄν), ἐὰν (εί + ἄν), ὅς ἄν, ἕως ἄν |
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A few uses of the Subjunctive
Dependent Clauses
- ἵνα + subjunctive expresses purpose; ἵνα μή or ὅπως μή = "in order that not" i.e. "lest"
- ἐάν + subjuntive expressess a condition i.e."If... then ..." which is a 3rd class condition which has 2 types:
- 1. Future More Probable, aka Future More Vivid)
- 2. Present General
Independent Clauses
- Hortatory Subjunctive (let as)
- "Hortatory" is related to the word "exhort"
- Deliberative Subjunctive
- A question whose answer in uncertain or in doubt
- Also used in emphatic negation and prohibition
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Paradigms
Present Subjunctive: Active
|
Subjunctive |
Indicative |
|
Subjuncive |
|
I might loose |
I loose |
|
I might be |
1st s |
λύω |
λύω |
|
ὦ |
2nd s |
λύεις |
λύεις |
|
ἦς |
3rd s |
λύει |
λύει |
|
ᾖ |
|
|
|
|
|
1st pl |
λύομεν |
λύομεν |
|
ὦμεν |
2nd pl |
λύετε |
λύετε |
|
ἦτε |
3rd pl |
λύουσι(ν) |
λύουσι(ν) |
|
ὦσι(ω) |
|
Present Subjunctive: Middle/Passive
|
Subjunctive |
|
Indicative |
|
I might loose |
|
I loose |
1st s |
λύωμαι |
|
λύομαι |
2nd s |
λύῃ |
|
λύῃ |
3rd s |
λύηται |
|
λύεται |
|
|
|
|
1st pl |
λυώμεθα |
|
λυόμεθα |
2nd pl |
λύησθε |
|
λύεσθε |
3rd pl |
λύωνται |
|
λύονται |
|
Aorist Subjunctive: Active
|
Subjunctive |
|
Indicative |
|
1st aorist |
2nd aorist |
|
1st aorist |
2nd aorist |
1st s |
λύσω |
λάβω |
|
ἔλυσα |
ἔλαβον/td>
|
2nd s |
λύσῃς |
λάβῃ` |
|
ἔλυσας |
ἔλαβες |
3rd s |
λύσῃ |
λάβῃ |
|
ἔλυσε(ν) |
ἔλαβε(ν) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st pl |
λύσωμεν |
λάβωμεν |
|
ἐλύσαμεν |
ἐλάβομεν |
2nd pl |
λύσητε |
λάβητε |
|
ἔλυσαν |
ἐλάβετε |
3rd pl |
λύσωσι(ν) |
λάβωσι (ν) |
|
ἔλυσαν |
ἔλαβον |
|
Aorist Subjunctive: Middle
|
Subjunctive |
|
Indicative |
|
1st aorist |
2nd aorist |
|
1st aorist |
2nd aorist |
1st s |
λύσωμαι |
γένωμαι |
|
ἐλυσάμην |
ἐγενόμην |
2nd s |
λύσῃ |
γένῃ |
|
ἐλύσω |
ἐγένου |
3rd s |
λύσηται |
γένηται |
|
ἐλύσατο |
ἐγένετο |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st pl |
λυσώμεθα |
λιπώμεθα |
|
ἐλυσάμεθα |
ἐγενόμεθα |
2nd pl |
λύσησθε |
γένησθε |
|
ἐλύσασθε |
ἐγένεσθε |
3rd pl |
λύσωνται |
γένωνται |
|
ἐλύσαντο |
ἐγένοντο |
|
Aorist Subjunctive: Passive
|
Subjunctive |
|
Indicative |
|
1st aorist |
2nd aorist |
|
1st aorist |
2nd aorist |
1st s |
λυθῶ |
γραφῶ |
|
ἐλύθην |
ἐγράαφην |
2nd s |
λυθῇς |
γραφῇς |
|
ἐλύθης |
εγράφης |
3rd s |
λυθῇ |
γραπῇ |
|
ἐλύθη |
έγράφθη |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st pl |
λυθῶμεν |
γφαφῶμεν |
|
ἐλύθημεν |
έγράφημεν |
2nd pl |
λυθῆτε |
γραφῆτε |
|
ἐλύθητε |
έγράφητε |
3rd pl |
λυθῶσι
(ν) |
γραφῶσι
(ν) |
|
ἐλύθησαν |
έγράφησαν |
|
Some Examples
Luke 2:15 διέλθωμεν δὴ ἕως Βηθλέεμ "Let us to as far as Bethlehem"
Romans 6:1 ἐπιμενοῦμεν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσῃ; "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?"
Luke21:32 ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται: "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place"
Acts 16:30 τί με δεῖ ποιεῖν ἵνα σωθῶ; "what must I do to be saved?"
Luke 21:8 βλέπετε μὴ πλανηθῆτε "Take heed that you are not deceived"
Matthew 5:11 μακάριοί ἐστε ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you"
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NOTE WELL: These pages do not replace texts by professional Greek Scholars. They are a summary of basic grammar for use by the Author. The Author makes no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, as to the accuracy or completement of the information provided.
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