This page is part of a more general, learner-oriented page on Greek verbs (modern and ancient), which in turn is part of the author’s pages on the grammar of the Greek language.
As mentioned in the general information on Greek verbs, each Greek verb comes in two flavors, which we called vanilla and strawberry, which become three if we count the passive chocolate as a separate flavor. (Please visit the previous link and read the beginning of that page to see the justification for this choice of words.) In a brief introductory paragraph on irregular verbs we saw that there are three verbs (βλέπω = I see, λέω = I say, and τρώω = I eat) that have totally unrelated vanilla and strawberry flavors (είδα = I saw, είπα = I said, and έφαγα = I ate). All other irregular verbs have flavors of vanilla and strawberry (and chocolate in the passive voice) that are more-or-less related to each other (they have at least some common consonants) but they are irregular because they cannot be pigeonholed into one of the regular patterns (see the page on regular Greek verbs for a list of those patterns).
The verbs listed in this page are by no means all of the irregular verbs in Greek. However, they are taken from the list of the 1000 most common Greek words (for information on how this list was obtained, see this footnote), so in a way they are the irregular Greek verbs a learner would want to look at for most practical purposes.
Verbs in their main tables are listed in this page by frequency of occurrence in the language, in reverse order (high frequencies first). A list (“Table of Contents”) is given immediately below, for ease of locating a given verb alphabetically.
Finally note that a characteristic of Greek verbs is that often prepositions can be prepended to a base verb, changing completely its meaning. Prepositional forms are listed under the tables of the main verb entry, in a note; but because they are too many, they have been omitted from the Table of Contents, below; so it is recommended that the reader use the search function of their browser to locate verbs in this page. Often the compound prepositional verb is more common than its base form; in that case, the prepositional form is shown as a main entry, and the base together with all other prepositional verbs follow in a note.
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... to be continued ... | ... stay tuned ... |
Note: The entire conjugation of this verb (all persons) is given here.
Note 1: There is no vanilla vs. strawberry distinction in verb έχω. As a result, the imperfect is identical with the past form: only the context can differentiate whether είχα is meant in the progressive or instantaneous sense.
Note 2: Since the forms of this verb are only two (έχω and είχα), its entire conjugation can be given here, in all three persons and two numbers, thus: present: έχω, έχεις, έχει, έχουμε, έχετε, έχουν/έχουνε; and imperfect/past: είχα, είχες, είχε, είχαμε, είχατε, είχαν/είχανε. The last ε in the 3rd person plural is called a “euphonic epsilon”, and is used to make the speech continuous, usually when the next word starts with a consonant which is not one of κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ; but it is not mandatory. (The euphonic epsilon applies not only to έχω but to all verbs in the 3rd person plural.)
Note 3: There are several compound prepositional
verbs formed with έχω, some of which have been regularized.
But note that although έχω itself lacks separate subjunctive
and passive forms (e.g., there is no “έχομαι”), some of
the compound verbs do have their own subjunctive (e.g.,
παράσχω) and passive (e.g., παρέχομαι). Wherever
such forms exist, they are noted below (in parentheses: imperfect, subjunctive,
past, passive
present):
ανέχομαι (ανά +
έχομαι): put up with, tolerate, bear (ανεχόμουν,
ανεχθώ/ανεχτώ,
ανέχθηκα/ανέχτηκα)
αντέχω (αντί + έχω):
endure, stand, bear (listed as regular)
(άντεχα, αντέξω,
άντεξα, αντέχομαι)
απέχω (από + έχω):
abstain, refrain, keep away from (απείχα,
απέσχω, απείχα,
--)
εξέχω (εξ + έχω):
protrude, stand out; be prominent (εξείχα,
εξέχω, εξείχα,
--)
επέχω (επί + έχω): stand
for (as a substitute for smth. else) (επείχα,
επέχω, επείχα,
--)
κατέχω (κατά + έχω):
know (= “γνωρίζω”); occupy (κατείχα/κάτεχα, κατέχω,
κατείχα, κατέχομαι)
μετέχω (μετά + έχω):
participate (= “συμμετέχω”, see below) (μετείχα, μετάσχω,
μετείχα, --)
παρέχω (παρά + έχω):
provide (παρείχα, παράσχω, παρείχα,
παρέχομαι)
περιέχω (περί + έχω):
contain (περιείχα, περιέξω, περιείχα,
περιέχομαι)
προέχω (προ + έχω): be
of utmost importance, be prominent (προείχα,
προέχω, προείχα,
--)
προσέχω (προς + έχω):
pay attention to, be attentive, watch, keep an eye on (listed as regular) (πρόσεχα, προσέξω,
πρόσεξα, προσέχομαι)
συμμετέχω (συν +
μετά + έχω) participate (συμμετείχα,
συμμετάσχω, συμμετείχα, --)
συμπεριέχω (συν +
περί + έχω): include (= “συμπεριλαμβάνω”)
(συμπεριείχα, συμπεριέχω, συμπεριείχα, συμπεριέχομαι)
υπερέχω (υπέρ + έχω):
be superior (υπερείχα, υπερέχω, υπερείχα,
--)
υπέχω (υπό + έχω): be
compelled, be obliged (to do smth.); stand for (= “επέχω”)
(υπείχα, υπέχω,
υπείχα, --)
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -παιρν- | Chocolate flavor: stem -παρθ- | ||||
Present | παίρνομαι | I am [being] taken | |||
Imperfect | παιρνόμουν | I was being taken | Past | πάρθηκα | I was taken |
Future Progressive | θα παίρνομαι | I will be being taken | Future | θα παρθώ | I will be taken |
Subjunctive Progressive | να παίρνομαι | to be being taken | Subjunctive | να παρθώ | to be taken |
Conditional Progressive | θα παιρνόμουν | I would be taken | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα πάρθηκα | I [possibly] am taken |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να παιρνόμουν | [I wish] I could be taken | Assumption | [πρέπει] να πάρθηκα | I [must] have been taken |
Imperative Progressive | να παίρνεσαι! | [start] being taken! | Imperative | να παρθείς! | be taken! |
Present Perfect | έχω παρθεί | I have been taken | |||
Pluperfect | είχα παρθεί | I had been taken | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω παρθεί | I will have been taken | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα παρθεί | I would have been taken | |||
Past Participle | παρμένο, -νη, -νος | taken | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | παίρνομαι | I take myself (?) | Imperative Middle | πάρσου! | take yourself! |
Note: The middle voice does not make much sense for the verb above. However, πάρσου (middle imperative) is possible, though extremely rare.
Middle Voice (meaning: I am called / my apellation is) | Passive Voice (meaning: I am said) | ||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -λεγ- | Chocolate flavor: stem -πωθ- | ||||
Present | λέγομαι | I am called | |||
Imperfect | λεγόμουν | I was being called | Past | ειπώθηκα | I was said |
Future Progressive | θα λέγομαι | I will be being called | Future | θα ειπωθώ | I will be said |
Subjunctive Progressive | να λέγομαι | to be being called | Subjunctive | να ειπωθώ | to be said |
Conditional Progressive | θα λεγόμουν | I would be called | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα ειπώθηκα | I [possibly] am said |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να λεγόμουν | [I wish] I could be called | Assumption | [πρέπει] να ειπώθηκα | I [must] have been said |
Imperative Progressive | να λέγεσαι! | [start] being called! | Imperative | να ειπωθείς! | be said! |
Present Perfect | έχω ειπωθεί | I have been said | |||
Pluperfect | είχα ειπωθεί | I had been said | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω ειπωθεί | I will have been said | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα ειπωθεί | I would have been said | |||
Past Participle | λεγόμενο, -νη, -νος | called, so-called |
Note 1: The middle voice of the verb above has a different meaning than its active and passive senses, and is formed by the vanilla stem. The passive voice occurs almost always in the 3rd person, due to the concept it describes (ειπώθηκε = “it was said”, θα ειπωθεί = “it will be said”, etc.). The passive present and imperfect of this sense are also formed by the stem -λεγ- (λέγεται = “it is said”, λεγόταν = “it was being said/used to be said”, etc.).
Note 2: There is a compound verb derived from λέω by
prepending the adverb πάρα (very):
παραλέω (πάρα + λέω):
exaggerate, speak by magnifying events thus making them not true
(παραέλεγα, παραπώ, παραείπα)
This verb is used almost exclusively in the expression “τα
παραλέω” (e.g.: “Μην τα παραλές!” = “Don’t
be exaggerating [the facts]!”)
There are also a few compounds with prepositions, but note that
they use the regularized strawberry stem -λεξ-:
αντιλέγω (αντί +
λέγω): argue against (usu. against authority) (αντέλεγα, αντιλέξω,
αντέλεξα)
διαλέγω (διά + λέγω):
choose (διάλεγα, διαλέξω, διάλεξα)
εκλέγω (εκ + λέγω):
elect (εξέλεγα, εκλέξω, εξέλεξα)
επιλέγω (επί + λέγω):
select, cull (επέλεγα, επιλέξω, επέλεξα)
προλέγω (προ + λέγω):
foretell (προέλεγα, προλέξω, προέλεξα)
Note 3: The active vanilla stem -λε- is more common (in speech & writing) than -λεγ-; thus, it is more common to hear or read λέω, rather than λέγω (and also in the other persons: λες, λέει, λέμε, λέτε, λέν/λένε, rather than λέγεις, λέγει, λέγουμε, λέγετε, λέγουν/λέγουνε). It should be noted that -λε- is a result of erosion of -λεγ-, which is the original (ancient) stem. In the imperfect and imperative, however, no erosion is observed (no *έλεα, or *λέε!). Also, none of the compounds (see note 2) uses the stem -λε-.
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -διν- | Chocolate flavor: stem -δοθ- | ||||
Present | δίνομαι | I am [being] given | |||
Imperfect | δινόμουν | I was being given | Past | δόθηκα | I was given |
Future Progressive | θα δίνομαι | I will be being given | Future | θα δοθώ | I will be given |
Subjunctive Progressive | να δίνομαι | to be being given | Subjunctive | να δοθώ | to be given |
Conditional Progressive | θα δινόμουν | I would be given | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα δόθηκα | I [possibly] am given |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να δινόμουν | [I wish] I could be given | Assumption | [πρέπει] να δόθηκα | I [must] have been given |
Imperative Progressive | να δίνεσαι! | [start] being given! | Imperative | να δοθείς! | be given! |
Present Perfect | έχω δοθεί | I have been given | |||
Pluperfect | είχα δοθεί | I had been given | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω δοθεί | I will have been given | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα δοθεί | I would have been given | |||
Past Participle | δοσμένο, -νη, -νος | given | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | δίνομαι | I give/devote myself | Imperative Middle | δώσου! | give/devote yourself! |
Note: The older form δίδω of
this verb (from ancient δίδωμι) works as a prepositional
verb constructor (in parentheses: imperfect,
subjunctive, past):
αποδίδω (από + δίδω):
render (e.g., a translation); confer, bestow (e.g., honors to
someone) (απέδιδα, αποδόσω, απέδωσα)
διαδίδω (διά + δίδω):
spread rumors (διέδιδα, διαδόσω, διέδωσα)
εκδίδω (εκ + δίδω):
publish; push into prostitution (esp. in middle voice:
εκδίδομαι) (εξέδιδα,
εκδόσω, εξέδωσα)
καταδίδω (κατά +
δίδω): betray (pass on information against someone) (κατέδιδα, καταδόσω,
κατέδωσα)
μεταδίδω, and μεταδίνω (μετά + δίδω/δίνω):
transmit (programme through airwaves); transmit (disease), infect
(μετέδιδα, μεταδόσω, μετέδωσα)
παραδίδω, and παραδίνω (παρά + δίδω/δίνω):
teach lessons (in class or to student(s)); surrender (esp. in
middle voice) (παρέδιδα, παραδόσω, παρέδωσα)
προδίδω, and προδίνω (προ + δίδω/δίνω):
betray (a secret); be unloyal/unfaithful (in love) (προέδιδα/πρόδινα,
προδόσω, πρόδωσα)
προσδίδω (προς +
δίδω): add on (a feature/property to existent/known set of
features) (προσέδιδα, προσδόσω, προσέδωσα)
Middle Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -καμών- | Chocolate flavor: stem -καμώθ- | ||||
Present | καμώνομαι | I pretend / am pretending | |||
Imperfect | καμωνόμουν | I was pretending | Past | καμώθηκα | I pretended |
Future Progressive | θα καμώνομαι | I will be pretending | Future | θα καμωθώ | I will pretend |
Subjunctive Progressive | να καμώνομαι | to be pretending | Subjunctive | να καμωθώ | to pretend |
Conditional Progressive | θα καμωνόμουν | I would be pretending | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα καμώθηκα | I [possibly] pretended |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να καμωνόμουν | [I wish] I could be pretending | Assumption | [πρέπει] να καμώθηκα | I [must] have pretended |
Imperative Progressive | να καμώνεσαι! | [start] pretending! | Imperative | να καμωθείς! | pretend! |
Present Perfect | έχω καμωθεί | I have pretended | |||
Pluperfect | είχα καμωθεί | I had pretended | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω καμωθεί | I will have pretended | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα καμωθεί | I would have pretended | |||
Passive Voice | |||||
Past Participle | καμωμένο, -νη, -νος | done, made |
Note 1: the stem -καμν- is non-standard, used in some Greek localities only (mainly in Macedonia). However, in the imperfect it is heard occasionally among other native speakers too, because it distinguishes between the imperfect and past tenses. This verb derives from ancient κάμνω, meaning “I tire/am getting tired”, from which also nouns such as κάματος (toil), and καμώματα (peculiar/unexpected deeds/behavior) are derived.
Note 2: This verb works as a prepositional verb
constructor, with one preposition only (in parentheses: imperfect, subjunctive,
past):
αποκάνω or αποκάμνω (από
+ κάνω/κάμνω): resign due to tiredness (απόκανα/απόκαμνα,
αποκάμω, απόκαμα)
Note 3: There is a compound verb derived from
κάνω by prepending the adverb πάρα (very):
παρακάνω (πάρα +
κάνω): overdo (παράκανα,
παρακάνω, παράκανα)
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -θελ- | Chocolate flavor: stem -θεληθ- | ||||
Present | θέλομαι | I am [being] wanted | |||
Imperfect | θελόμουν | I was being wanted | Past | θελήθηκα | I was wanted |
Future Progressive | θα θέλομαι | I will be being wanted | Future | θα θεληθώ | I will be wanted |
Subjunctive Progressive | να θέλομαι | to be being wanted | Subjunctive | να θεληθώ | to be wanted |
Conditional Progressive | θα θελόμουν | I would be wanted | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα θελήθηκα | I [possibly] am wanted |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | να θελόμουν | [I wish] I could be wanted | Assumption | [πρέπει] να θελήθηκα | I [must] have been wanted |
Imperative Progressive | να θέλεσαι! | [start] being wanted! | Imperative | να θεληθείς! | be wanted! |
Present Perfect | έχω θεληθεί | I have been wanted | |||
Pluperfect | είχα θεληθεί | I had been wanted | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω θεληθεί | I will have been wanted | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα θεληθεί | I would have been wanted | |||
Past Participle | θελημένο, -νη, -νος | wanted | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | -- | (I want myself??) | Imperative Middle | -- | (want yourself!??) |
Note: The past participle of the above verb does not have the sense “wanted”, as in “a criminal is wanted” (that sense is expressed by “καταζητείται”); instead, the sense of it is “desired”.
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -βλεπ- | Chocolate flavor: stem -δωθ- | ||||
Present | βλέπομαι | I am [being] seen | |||
Imperfect | βλεπόμουν | I was being seen | Past | ειδώθηκα | I was seen |
Future Progressive | θα βλέπομαι | I will be being seen | Future | θα ειδωθώ | I will be seen |
Subjunctive Progressive | να βλέπομαι | to be being seen | Subjunctive | να ειδωθώ | to be seen |
Conditional Progressive | θα βλεπόμουν | I would be seen | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα ειδώθηκα | I [possibly] am seen |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να βλεπόμουν | [I wish] I could be seen | Assumption | [πρέπει] να ειδώθηκα | I [must] have been seen |
Imperative Progressive | να βλέπεσαι! | [start] being seen! | Imperative | να ειδωθείς! | be seen! |
Present Perfect | έχω ειδωθεί | I have been seen | |||
Pluperfect | είχα ειδωθεί | I had been seen | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω ειδωθεί | I will have been seen | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα ειδωθεί | I would have been seen | |||
Past Participle | ειδωμένο, -νη, -νος | seen | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | -- | I see myself | Imperative Middle | -- |
Note 1: To express the meaning of the middle voice (“I see myself”), another verb is used: κοιτάζομαι (from active κοιτάζω = I look at), the middle imperative of which is: κοιτάξου! (=look at yourself!)
Note 2: The above verb serves as a prepositional
verb constructor (in parentheses: imperfect,
subjunctive, past)
(notice that the prepositional verbs use mostly the regular,
rather than the irregular stems):
αποβλέπω (από +
βλέπω): intend, aim; act in expectation of a favorable
outcome (απέβλεπα, αποβλέψω, απέβλεψα)
διαβλέπω (διά +
βλέπω): see through time and predict a future event by
extrapolating from current events (διέβλεπα,
διαβλέψω, διέβλεψα/διείδα)
επιβλέπω (επί +
βλέπω): supervise (επέβλεπα,
επιβλέψω, επέβλεψα)
παραβλέπω (παρά +
βλέπω): fail to see by negligence (παρέβλεπα,
παραβλέψω, παρέβλεψα)
προβλέπω (προ +
βλέπω): predict (πρόβλεπα/προέβλεπα, προβλέψω,
πρόβλεψα/προέβλεψα)
προσβλέπω (προς +
βλέπω): expect/hope a favorable outcome (προσέβλεπα/πρόσβλεπα,
προσβλέψω, προσέβλεψα/πρόσβλεψα)
Note 1: Only the present tense has the alternative form πάω (declined as: πάω, πας, πάει, πάμε, πάτε, πάνε). None of the other vanilla forms becomes “contaminated” with the strawberry flavor.
Note 2: the present tense form “πάω να...” very rarely can denote future (“I am going to [do smth]”). One example would be, “πάει να τα καταφέρει” (“he/she is [almost] going to make it”). But such examples are hard to find. Do not use “πάω να” as a substitute for “I will” in Greek; instead, this verb almost always implies motion from one location to another.
Note 3: Although “πάε!” is given as the simple imperative form above, complying with the strawberry flavor, in practice the command “go!” is expressed almost always by progressive (vanilla) imperative “πήγαινε!”, probably because “going” is conceptualized as a progressive act.
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -φερν- | Chocolate flavor: stem -φερθ- | ||||
Present | φέρνομαι | I am [being] brought | |||
Imperfect | φερνόμουν | I was being brought | Past | φέρθηκα | I was brought |
Future Progressive | θα φέρνομαι | I will be being brought | Future | θα φερθώ | I will be brought |
Subjunctive Progressive | να φέρνομαι | to be being brought | Subjunctive | να φερθώ | to be brought |
Conditional Progressive | θα φερνόμουν | I would be brought | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα φέρθηκα | I [possibly] am brought |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να φερνόμουν | [I wish] I could be brought | Assumption | [πρέπει] να φέρθηκα | I [must] have been brought |
Imperative Progressive | να φέρνεσαι! | [start] being brought! | Imperative | να φερθείς! | be brought! |
Present Perfect | έχω φερθεί | I have been brought | |||
Pluperfect | είχα φερθεί | I had been brought | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω φερθεί | I will have been brought | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα φερθεί | I would have been brought | |||
Past Participle | φερμένο, -νη, -νος | brought | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | φέρομαι | I behave | Imperative Middle | φέρσου! | behave! |
Note 1: The verb above has an alternative form: φέρω in the active present (έφερα, active imperfect), which is less colloquial, making its vanilla stem identical to its strawberry. In this, rather learned form, φέρω usually has the sense “I bear, I have on myself”. E.g.: η ελληνική σημαία φέρει σταυρό (“the Greek flag bears a cross”), or: φέρει ουλή στο πρόσωπο (“bears a scar on the face”).
Note 2: The middle form φέρομαι is produced from this alternative form, φέρω (see note 1), and has a completely different meaning (“I behave”), which is much more common as a concept than the passive one (“I am brought”). Thus, a form such as φέρθηκα means, in most cases, “I behaved”. E.g.: μου φέρθηκε άσχημα (“he/she behaved badly to me / dealt with me badly”). However, the presence of the consonant ν in the stem usually signifies passive voice, e.g.: η φλόγα φέρνεται από την Ολυμπία (“the flame is brought from Olympia”). The meaning of “behave” can also be rendered through συμπεριφέρομαι, which is conjugated exactly as φέρομαι, prepending the prepositions συν- & περι- (resulting in συμπερι-) to all its forms.
Note 3: The form φέρω
(and its middle φέρομαι) is
prolific as a prepositional verb constructor (in parentheses: imperfect, subjunctive,
past):
αναφέρω (ανά + φέρω):
mention, report (to be encountered) (ανέφερα/ανάφερα,
αναφέρω, ανέφερα/ανάφερα)
αναφέρομαι (ανά +
φέρομαι): refer (αναφερόμουν,
αναφερθώ, αναφέρθηκα)
αποφέρω (από + φέρω):
yield, produce (απέφερα, αποφέρω, απέφερα)
διαφέρω (διά + φέρω):
differ (διέφερα, διαφέρω, διέφερα)
εισφέρω (εις + φέρω),
and more commonly, συνεισφέρω
(συν + εις + φέρω): contribute (συνεισέφερα,
συνεισφέρω, συνεισέφερα)
εκφέρω (εκ + φέρω):
utter (εξέφερα, εκφέρω, εξέφερα)
επιφέρω (επί + φέρω):
cause, bring about (επέφερα, επιφέρω, επέφερα)
καταφέρω (κατά +
φέρω): deal (a strike), hit (κατέφερα,
καταφέρω, κατάφερα)
καταφέρνω (κατά +
φέρνω): manage to do smth. (κατάφερνα,
καταφέρω, κατάφερα)
μεταφέρω (μετά +
φέρω): transfer, move; carry (μετάφερνα/μετέφερα, μεταφέρω,
μετάφερα/μετέφερα)
παραφέρομαι (παρά +
φέρομαι): lose one’s temper, go mad/berserk (παραφερόμουν, παραφερθώ, παραφέρθηκα)
περιφέρω (περί +
φέρω): carry around (περιέφερνα,
περιφέρω, περιέφερα)
περιφέρομαι (περί +
φέρομαι): wander (περιφερόμουν,
περιφερθώ, περιφέρθηκα)
προφέρω (προ + φέρω):
pronounce (πρόφερα/προέφερα, προφέρω,
πρόφερα/προέφερα)
προσφέρω (προς +
φέρω): offer, proffer; give for sale (πρόσφερα/προσέφερα, προσφέρω,
πρόσφερα/προσέφερα)
συμφέρω (συν + φέρω),
usu. in 3rd person συμφέρει:
be to one’s interests, be advantageous, suit one’s purpose (συνέφερα, συμφέρω,
συνέφερα)
συμπεριφέρομαι (συν
+ περί + φέρομαι): behave (συμπεριφερόμουν,
συμπεριφερθώ, συμπεριφέρθηκα)
υποφέρω (υπό + φέρω):
suffer; put up with (υπόφερα/υπέφερα, υποφέρω,
υπόφερα/υπέφερα)
Etymology Note (based on note 3): It is not a coincidence that the above verbs refer, differ, transfer, offer, and suffer all have a common ending; they are all derivatives of Latin ferre, which is akin to Greek φέρω.
Note 1: This verb lacks not only passive and middle voice, but also the entire strawberry flavor. It is found almost always in the 3rd person: αφορά (present) and αφορούσε (imperfect), as in “ο νέος ιός αφορά τους υπολογιστές εκείνους που...” (“the new virus is about [affects] those computers that...”), or: “η είδηση αφορούσε όλους όσοι...” (“the news concerned [was about] all those who...”). Or, consider these examples in the plural: “τα νέα αφορούν τις χώρες της Ευρώπης” (“the news concern [are about] the countries of Europe”), or: “δεν αφορούσαν εμένα” (“they were not about me”).
Note 2: There are some very common stock phrases using this verb that explain its high frequency of occurrence: 1. “όσον αφορά τον/την/το (or στον/στην/στο - see note 3)...”, meaning “regarding the...”, and 2. “δεν σε αφορά!”, meaning “it’s none of your business!” (lit.: “it does not concern you!”)
Note 3: There has been some discussion regarding whether τον/την/το or στον/στην/στο should follow αφορά. Grammarians have insisted that the correct syntax is αφορά στον/στην/στο, and that people who use τον/την/το do so erroneously. This suggestion for correction has been around since the early 80’s. Nonetheless, a search on the internet reveals that people overwhelmingly use the τον/την/το forms of the article (83%), rather than στον/στην/στο (17%), following this verb.
Note 1: The strawberry flavor of this verb has almost always the meaning “signal”, not “mean”, because the latter cannot be conceived of in an instantaneous sense in Greek: if something σημαίνει (“means”), it “means” continuously. In contrast, in English the form “I am meaning” sounds rather peculiar, if not plain wrong.
Note 2: This verb works as a prepositional verb
constructor, with one preposition only (in parentheses: imperfect, subjunctive,
past):
επισημαίνω (επί +
σημαίνω): point out, single out (επισήμαινα,
επισημάνω, επισήμανα)
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -λαμβαν- | Chocolate flavor: stem -ληφθ- | ||||
Present | λαμβάνομαι | I am [being] taken | |||
Imperfect | λαμβανόμουν | I was being taken | Past | λήφθηκα | I was taken |
Future Progressive | θα λαμβάνομαι | I will be being taken | Future | θα ληφθώ | I will be taken |
Subjunctive Progressive | να λαμβάνομαι | to be being taken | Subjunctive | να ληφθώ | to be taken |
Conditional Progressive | θα λαμβανόμουν | I would be taken | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα λήφθηκα | I [possibly] am taken |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να λαμβανόμουν | [I wish] I could be taken | Assumption | [πρέπει] να λήφθηκα | I [must] have been taken |
Imperative Progressive | να λαμβάνεσαι! | [start] being taken! | Imperative | να ληφθείς! | be taken! |
Present Perfect | έχω ληφθεί | I have been taken | |||
Pluperfect | είχα ληφθεί | I had been taken | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω ληφθεί | I will have been taken | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα ληφθεί | I would have been taken | |||
Past Participle | ειλημένο, -νη, -νος | taken | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | -- (“εκλαμβάνομαι”) | I am misunderstood | Imperative Middle | -- |
Note: The above verb (in its forms λαμβάνω,
λαβαίνω, λαμβάνομαι) serves as a prepositional
verb constructor (in parentheses: imperfect,
subjunctive, past):
αναλαμβάνω (ανά +
λαμβάνω): undertake; recuperate (αναλάμβανα,
αναλάβω, ανέλαβα)
αντιλαμβάνομαι (αντί
+ λαμβάνομαι): perceive; comprehend (αντιλαμβανόμουν, αντιληφθώ, αντιλήφθηκα)
απολαμβάνω (από +
λαμβάνω): enjoy (απολάμβανα,
απολαύσω, απόλαυσα) (notice the
irregular-irregular subjunctive & past!)
εκλαμβάνω (εκ +
λαμβάνω): misunderstand, take for smth. else (εξελάμβανα, εκλάβω, εξέλαβα)
επαναλαμβάνω (επί +
ανά + λαμβάνω): repeat (επαναλάμβανα,
επαναλάβω, επανέλαβα)
καταλαβαίνω (κατά +
λαβαίνω): understand (to be encountered later) (καταλάβαινα, καταλάβω, κατάλαβα)
καταλαμβάνω (κατά +
λαμβάνω): conquer, occupy (e.g., nation, position) (καταλάμβανα, καταλάβω, κατάλαβα/κατέλαβα)
καταλαμβάνομαι (κατά
+ λαμβάνομαι): seized by some feeling/attitude (καταλαμβανόμουν, καταληφθώ, καταλήφθηκα)
μεταλαβαίνω, and μεταλαμβάνω (μετά +
λαμβάνω/λαβαίνω): receive Holy Communion (μεταλάβαινα/μεταλάμβανα, μεταλάβω, μετάλαβα/μετέλαβα)
παραλαμβάνω (παρά +
λαμβάνω): receive (a delivery) (παραλάμβανα,
παραλάβω, παρέλαβα)
περιλαμβάνω (περί +
λαμβάνω): include (περιλάμβανα/περιελάμβανα,
περιλάβω, περιέλαβα)
προλαβαίνω, and προλαμβάνω (προ +
λαβαίνω/λαμβάνω): prevent (προλάβαινα,
προλάβω, πρόλαβα)
προσλαμβάνω (προς +
λαμβάνω): hire (to a company); take on (προσλάμβανα/προσελάμβανα, προσλάβω, προσέλαβα)
συλλαμβάνω (συν +
λαμβάνω), arrest; conceive (child, idea) (συλλάμβανα/συνελάμβανα,
συλλάβω, συνέλαβα)
συμπεριλαμβάνω (συν
+ περί + λαμβάνω): include (συμπεριλάμβανα/συμπεριελάμβανα, συμπεριλάβω, συμπεριέλαβα)
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -βρισκ- | Chocolate flavor: stem -βρεθ- | ||||
Present | βρίσκομαι | I am [being] found | |||
Imperfect | βρισκόμουν | I was being found | Past | βρέθηκα | I was found |
Future Progressive | θα βρίσκομαι | I will be being found | Future | θα βρεθώ | I will be found |
Subjunctive Progressive | να βρίσκομαι | to be being found | Subjunctive | να βρεθώ | to be found |
Conditional Progressive | θα βρισκόμουν | I would be found | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα βρέθηκα | I [possibly] am found |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να βρισκόμουν | [I wish] I could be found | Assumption | [πρέπει] να βρέθηκα | I [must] have been found |
Imperative Progressive | να βρίσκεσαι! | [start] being found! | Imperative | να βρεθείς! | be found! |
Present Perfect | έχω βρεθεί | I have been found | |||
Pluperfect | είχα βρεθεί | I had been found | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω βρεθεί | I will have been found | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα βρεθεί | I would have been found | |||
Past Participle | -- | found | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | βρίσκομαι | I am located | Imperative Middle | -- | be located! |
Note: There is no past participle for the above verb (“βρεμένο, -η, -ος” means “wet”, not “found”). To say that something “is found” the 3rd person sg. of present tense is used: βρίσκεται. Also, there is no middle imperative; to say “be located!” the 2nd person sg. of progressive subjunctive is used: να βρίσκεσαι!
Note: This is one more verb with identical vanilla and strawberry flavors. Its perfect senses are formed through another verb: γνωρίζω, which also means “I know”, but in a slightly different sense: “be aware/cognizant of”, “have intimate knowledge of” (akin to Spanish conocer; while ξέρω is akin to Sp. saber).
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem ανα + -φερ- | Chocolate flavor: stem ανα + -φερθ- | ||||
Present | αναφέρομαι | I am [being] mentioned | |||
Imperfect | αναφερόμουν | I was being mentioned | Past | αναφέρθηκα | I was mentioned |
Future Progressive | θα αναφέρομαι | I will be being mentioned | Future | θα αναφερθώ | I will be mentioned |
Subjunctive Progressive | να αναφέρομαι | to be being mentioned | Subjunctive | να αναφερθώ | to be mentioned |
Conditional Progressive | θα αναφερόμουν | I would be mentioned | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα αναφέρθηκα | I [possibly] am mentioned |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να αναφερόμουν | [I wish] I could be mentioned | Assumption | [πρέπει] να αναφέρθηκα | I [must] have been mentioned |
Imperative Progressive | να αναφέρεσαι! | [start] being mentioned! | Imperative | να αναφερθείς! | be mentioned! |
Present Perfect | έχω αναφερθεί | I have been mentioned | |||
Pluperfect | είχα αναφερθεί | I had been mentioned | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω αναφερθεί | I will have been mentioned | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα αναφερθεί | I would have been mentioned | |||
Past Participle | αναφερμένο, -νη, -νος | mentioned | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | αναφέρομαι | I refer | Imperative Middle | αναφέρσου! | refer! |
Note 1: The irregularity of the verb above is that its vanilla and strawberry stems are identical. Also note, the middle voice form has a different sense, “I refer to”, which is active in English. This sense is much more common than the passive “I am mentioned”. For example, the phrase “ο Ηρόδοτος αναφέρεται στους ελληνο-περσικούς πολέμους” means “Herodotus refers to [writes about] the Greco-Persian wars” (not that “Herodotus is mentioned in the Greco-Persian wars”).
Note 2: This verb is actually a compound one, made by the preposition ανά + the verb φέρω. It is listed explicitly here because of its high frequency of occurrence. Otherwise, all other compound (prepositional) verb forms of φέρω are listed here.
Passive Voice: this verb has no passive voice sense; though βάζομαι is possible, in practice the verb τοποθετούμαι (active τοποθετώ) is used to denote the idea “I am put by someone”. However, the chocolate flavor -βαλθ- is used in a middle voice sense (see below). | |||||
Middle Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor | Chocolate flavor: stem -βαλθ- | ||||
Present | -- | I am [being] put | |||
Imperfect | -- | I was being put | Past | βάλθηκα να... | I am/was set to... (determined) |
Future Progressive | -- | I will be being put | Future | θα βαλθώ να... | I will be set to... |
Subjunctive Progressive | -- | to be being put | Subjunctive | να βαλθώ να... | to be set to... |
Conditional Progressive | -- | I would be put | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα βάλθηκα να... | I [possibly] am set to... |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | -- | [I wish] I could be put | Assumption | [πρέπει] να βάλθηκα να... | I [must] have been set to... |
Imperative Progressive | -- | [start] being put! | Imperative | βάλσου να...! | be set to...! |
Present Perfect | έχω βαλθεί να... | I have been set to... | |||
Pluperfect | είχα βαλθεί να... | I had been set to... | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω βαλθεί να... | I will have been set to... | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα βαλθεί να... | I would have been set to... | |||
Past Participle | βαλμένο, -νη, -νος | placed, set to... |
Note: The middle sense βάλθηκα is almost always followed by a verb in the subjunctive, hence the particle να... is included in the table above. Similarly in English, when the verb “set” is used in the same sense, it is almost always followed by an infinitive (to...), corresponding to the Greek subjunctive. Example: βάλθηκε να σπάσει όλα τα ρεκόρ (“s/he was set to break all records”).
Note: The above verb serves as a prepositional
verb constructor (in parentheses: imperfect,
subjunctive, past):
αναμένω (ανά + μένω):
expect (ανέμενα, αναμείνω, ανέμεινα/ανάμεινα)
απομένω (από + μένω):
be left over (απέμενα, απομείνω, απέμεινα)
διαμένω (διά + μένω):
live (at a place) (διέμενα, διαμείνω, διέμεινα)
επιμένω (επί + μένω):
insist, persist (επέμενα, επιμείνω, επέμεινα)
παραμένω (παρά +
μένω): remain (παρέμενα,
παραμείνω, παρέμεινα)
περιμένω (περί +
μένω): wait; expect (περίμενα,
περιμείνω, περίμεινα (but note: the past
tense is not used))
προσμένω (προς +
μένω): anticipate, look forward to (πρόσμενα/προσέμενα, προσμείνω,
πρόσμεινα/προσέμεινα (but note: the past
tense is not used))
υπομένω (υπό + μένω):
endure; put up with (υπόμενα/υπέμενα, υπομείνω,
υπόμεινα/υπέμεινα)
Passive and Middle Voice: though βγάζομαι is possible, in practice no passive or middle form other than the past participle of this verb is used. | |||||
Past Participle | βγαλμένο, -νη, -νος | taken out, extracted |
Note: The above verb is an
eroded form of the compound prepositional verb εμβαίνω (εν + βαίνω). The
verb βαίνω, although obsolete,
is still used occasionally, meaning “proceed”, and is
responsible for a number of other compound prepositional verbs
(in parentheses: imperfect, subjunctive, past):
ανεβαίνω (ανά + εν +
βαίνω): ascend, get on (ανέβαινα,
ανεβώ, ανέβηκα)
αντιβαίνω (αντί +
βαίνω): clash, go against (αντέβαινα,
αντιβώ, αντέβην)
αποβαίνω (από +
βαίνω): result (απέβαινα,
αποβώ, απέβην)
επιβαίνω (επί +
βαίνω): get on (a vehicle or an animal for transportation) (επέβαινα, επιβώ,
επέβην)
επεμβαίνω (επί + εν +
βαίνω): intervene, meddle, encroach (επέμβαινα,
επέμβω, επέμβην/επέμβηκα)
κατεβαίνω (κατά + εν
+ βαίνω): descend, get down (κατέβαινα,
κατεβώ, κατέβηκα)
μεταβαίνω (μετά +
βαίνω): be transported (μετέβαινα,
μεταβώ, μετέβην)
παραβαίνω (παρά +
βαίνω): violate, infringe (παρέβαινα,
παραβώ, παρέβην)
παρεμβαίνω (παρά +
εν + βαίνω): interfere, intrude (παρέμβαινα,
παρέμβω, παρέμβην/παρέμβηκα)
προβαίνω (προ +
βαίνω): proceed, carry out a behavior (a demonstration,
statement, etc.) (προέβαινα,
προβώ, προέβην)
συμβαίνω (συν +
βαίνω), happen (συνέβαινα,
συμβώ, συνέβην)
υπερβαίνω (υπέρ +
βαίνω): exceed (υπερέβαινα,
υπερβώ, υπερέβην)
Of the above verbs, those that are very common, such as ανεβαίνω and κατεβαίνω,
have “regularized” their endings in the past (-ηκα, -ηκες,
-ηκε, -ήκαμε, -ήκατε, -ηκαν), while the rest
retain their ancient past endings (-ην, ης, -η, -ημεν, -ητε,
-ησαν). Such differences mean that the regularized forms are
used in everyday speech, while the ancient/obsolete ones imply a
more “learned” language use.
Note 1: An older (ancient) form of this verb is πίπτω (imperfect: έπιπτα), which can still be encountered occasionally in appropriate contexts and expressions.
Note 2: A few prepositional compound verbs are
derived from πέφτω and πίπτω (in parentheses: imperfect, subjunctive,
past):
εκπίπτω (εκ + πίπτω):
(for a price): be discounted from a tax; (for a person): be
exempted from duties (εξέπιπτα,
εκπέσω, εξέπεσα)
καταπέφτω (κατά + πέφτω): fall down
(possibly hitting smth. and causing destruction), collapse (κατάπεφτα, καταπέσω,
κατάπεσα)
καταπίπτω (κατά + πίπτω): be discounted,
subtracted from a price/sum; be annulled/nullified (κατέπιπτα, καταπέσω,
κατέπεσα)
παραπέφτω (παρά + πέφτω): (for an
object): be misplaced; (for a person, organization, nation, etc.)
lose prior high status (παράπεφτα,
παραπέσω, παράπεσα)
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem προ + -τειν- | Chocolate flavor: stem προ + -ταθ- | ||||
Present | προτείνομαι | I am [being] proposed | |||
Imperfect | προτεινόμουν | I was being proposed | Past | προτάθηκα | I was proposed |
Future Progressive | θα προτείνομαι | I will be being proposed | Future | θα προταθώ | I will be proposed |
Subjunctive Progressive | να προτείνομαι | to be being proposed | Subjunctive | να προταθώ | to be proposed |
Conditional Progressive | θα προτεινόμουν | I would be proposed | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα προτάθηκα | I [possibly] am proposed |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να προτεινόμουν | [I wish] I could be proposed | Assumption | [πρέπει] να προτάθηκα | I [must] have been proposed |
Imperative Progressive | να προτείνεσαι! | [start] being proposed! | Imperative | να προταθείς! | be proposed! |
Present Perfect | έχω προταθεί | I have been proposed | |||
Pluperfect | είχα προταθεί | I had been proposed | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω προταθεί | I will have been proposed | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα προταθεί | I would have been proposed | |||
Past Participle | -- | proposed | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | (“αυτοπροτείνομαι”) | I propose myself | Imperative Middle | προτάσου! | be proposed! |
Note 1: The missing past participle is not a missing concept in Greek. To say, for example, “the proposed law”, the progressive present participle is used: “ο προτεινόμενος νόμος”. In Greek conceptualization, the act of proposing cannot be considered finished unless a decision is taken; hence the past participle is conceptually inappropriate for this verb.
Note 2: The above is actually a compound verb,
the most common prepositional version of τείνω,
which means “tend” (as in, “inclined to do smth.”).
Τείνω forms several more prepositional verbs (in
parentheses: imperfect, subjunctive, past):
ανατείνω (ανά +
τείνω): raise against, hold up against (ανέτεινα, ανατείνω,
ανέτεινα)
αντιτείνω (αντί +
τείνω): utter (or write) a counter-argument (αντέτεινα, αντιτείνω,
αντέτεινα)
αποτείνω (από +
τείνω): direct and offer smth. to sb. (απότεινα,
αποτείνω, απότεινα)
αποτείνομαι (από +
τείνομαι): address (αποτεινόμουν,
αποταθώ, αποτάθηκα)
διατείνω (διά +
τείνω): dilate (διέτεινα,
διατείνω, διέτεινα)
διατείνομαι (από +
τείνομαι): claim, maintain (διατεινόμουν,
--, --)
(the forms διαταθώ and διατάθηκα have the passive sense
of διατείνω)
εκτείνομαι (εκ +
τείνομαι): extend (passively, e.g., as with the fixed
borders of a nation) (εξετεινόμουν/εκτεινόμουν, εκταθώ, εκτάθηκα)
εντείνω (εν + τείνω):
intensify, increase a trend (ενέτεινα,
εντείνω, ενέτεινα)
επεκτείνω (επί + εκ +
τείνω): extend (actively, e,g., as with actively enlarging
sovereignty), expand (επεξέτεινα,
επικτείνω, επεξέτεινα)
επιτείνω (επί +
τείνω): aggravate; keep or increase a trend in time (επέτεινα, επιτείνω,
επέτεινα)
κατατείνω (κατά +
τείνω): have a tendency to (κατέτεινα,
κατατείνω, κατέτεινα)
παρατείνω (παρά +
τείνω): prolong (παρέτεινα,
παρατείνω, παρέτεινα)
προτείνω (προ +
τείνω): propose (given above)
συντείνω (συν +
τείνω), conduce, contribute (συνέτεινα,
συντείνω, συνέτεινα)
Note: The missing strawberry flavor is explained conceptually by the fact that this verb can be understood only in a progressive sense, not in an instantaneous one: if something “belongs”, it usually belongs with an implied duration, not instantly. This is true conceptually, so it is independent of the language we speak. Greek reflects this observation by lacking a strawberry flavor for this verb. English reflects it in a different way: the verb “to belong” conceptually still has a progressive aspect, which it “usurps” from its grammatically progressive form; thus, to say “I am belonging” sounds distinctly peculiar and unusual (though it is grammatically possible).
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -στελν- | Chocolate flavor: stem -σταλθ- | ||||
Present | στέλνομαι | I am [being] sent | |||
Imperfect | στελνόμουν | I was being sent | Past | στάλθηκα | I was sent |
Future Progressive | θα στέλνομαι | I will be being sent | Future | θα σταλώ | I will be sent |
Subjunctive Progressive | να στέλνομαι | to be being sent | Subjunctive | να σταλώ | to be sent |
Conditional Progressive | θα στελνόμουν | I would be sent | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα στάλθηκα | I [possibly] am sent |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να στελνόμουν | [I wish] I could be sent | Assumption | [πρέπει] να στάλθηκα | I [must] have been sent |
Imperative Progressive | να στέλνεσαι! | [start] being sent! | Imperative | να σταλείς! | be sent! |
Present Perfect | έχω σταλεί | I have been sent | |||
Pluperfect | είχα σταλεί | I had been sent | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω σταλεί | I will have been sent | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα σταλεί | I would have been sent | |||
Past Participle | σταλμένο, -νη, -νος | sent | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | στέλνομαι | I send myself | Imperative Middle | στάλσου! | send yourself! |
Note 1: The middle imperative “στάλσου” can be considered rare to objectionable (some native speakers might claim it is never uttered).
Note 2: This verb derives from the older form στέλλω (passive στέλλομαι), which is still used
today in appropriate formal contexts. This older form is
responsible for a number of compound prepositional verbs (in
parentheses: imperfect, subjunctive, past):
αναστέλλω (ανά +
στέλλω): suspend, postpone to an indefinite time (ανέστελλα, αναστείλω,
ανέστειλα)
αντιδιαστέλλω (αντί
+ διά + στέλλω): compare by contrasting (= “παραβάλλω”)
(αντιδιέστελλα, αντιδιαστείλω, αντιδιέστειλα)
αποστέλλω (από +
στέλλω): send (= “στέλλω”), dispatch (απέστελλα, αποστείλω,
απέστειλα)
διαστέλλω (διά +
στέλλω): dilate, inflate, distend, expand (διέστελλα, διαστείλω,
διέστειλα)
καταστέλλω (κατά +
στέλλω): quell, repress, suppress (κατέστελλα,
καταστείλω, κατέστειλα)
περιστέλλω (περί +
στέλλω): limit, curb (περιέστελλα,
περιστείλω, περιέστειλα)
υποστέλλω (υπό +
στέλλω): lower (usu.: a flag) (υπέστελλα,
υποστείλω, υπέστειλα)
Note 1: The idiomatic imperative form φεύγα (notice its vanilla flavor) is rather slang. The “normal” form is φύγε.
Note 2: A few compound prepositional verbs are
formed with φεύγω (in parentheses: imperfect,
subjunctive, past):
αποφεύγω (από +
φεύγω): avoid, shun (απέφευγα/απόφευγα, αποφύγω,
απέφυγα/απόφυγα)
διαφεύγω (διά +
φεύγω): escape, get away; leak (usu.: profit, money) (διέφευγα, διαφύγω,
διέφυγα)
εκφεύγω (εκ + φεύγω):
be out of the jurisdiction/scope of (εξέφευγα,
εκφύγω, εξέφυγα)
καταφεύγω (κατά +
φεύγω): resort, take refuge (κατέφευγα,
καταφύγω, κατέφυγα)
προσφεύγω (προς +
φεύγω): recourse, turn to (usu.: to justice) (προσέφευγα, προσφύγω, προσέφυγα)
Etymology note: The English word fugitive has its root in the above Greek word.
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -τρωγ- | Chocolate flavor: stem -φαγωθ- | ||||
Present | τρώγομαι | I am [being] eaten | |||
Imperfect | τρωγόμουν | I was being eaten | Past | φαγώθηκα | I was eaten |
Future Progressive | θα τρώγομαι | I will be being eaten | Future | θα φαγωθώ | I will be eaten |
Subjunctive Progressive | να τρώγομαι | to be being eaten | Subjunctive | να φαγωθώ | to be eaten |
Conditional Progressive | θα τρωγόμουν | I would be eaten | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα φαγώθηκα | I [possibly] am eaten |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να τρωγόμουν | [I wish] I could be eaten | Assumption | [πρέπει] να φαγώθηκα | I [must] have been eaten |
Imperative Progressive | να τρώγεσαι! | [start] being eaten! | Imperative | να φαγωθείς! | be eaten! |
Present Perfect | έχω φαγωθεί | I have been eaten | |||
Pluperfect | είχα φαγωθεί | I had been eaten | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω φαγωθεί | I will have been eaten | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα φαγωθεί | I would have been eaten | |||
Past Participle | φαγωμένο, -νη, -νος | eaten | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | τρώγομαι | I quarrel | Imperative Middle | φαγώσου! | be eaten! |
Note 1: The original form of this verb in the present is τρώγω, but erosion has turned it into τρώω, to the extent that the form τρώγω is seldom ever used (and is probably dialectal). Erosion is applied to all persons in the present tense; thus, instead of the (antiquated) τρώγω, τρώγεις, τρώγει, τρώγουμε, τρώγετε, τρώγουν (or τρώγουνε), we now have: τρώω, τρως, τρώει, τρώμε, τρώτε, τρων (or τρώνε). However, no erosion occurs in the imperfect and imperative of the active voice, nor in the entire passive/middle voice (naturally: only the most common forms can be eroded).
Note 2: The peculiar middle sense of τρώγομαι (“I quarrel”) is rather slang, and should be avoided in formal, or slightly formal contexts (the more straightforward “μαλώνω” is recommended). Also note the expression “τρώγομαι με τα ρούχα μου”, (lit.: “I quarrel with my own clothes”) which means (in liberal translation), “I am so anxious to quarrel with sb. that, finding no suitable target, I start destroying/complaining about things that belong to me, or quarreling with people of my own circle/side/party.”
Note 3: A single prepositional compound verb is
derived from τρώγω by prepending the preposition κατά:
κατατρώγω (κατά +
τρώγω): eat up (e.g., from the inside), eat completely (κατάτρωγα/κατέτρωγα, καταφάω, κατάφαγα/κατέφαγα)
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -μαθαιν- | Chocolate flavor: stem -μαθευτ- | ||||
Present | μαθαίνομαι | I am [being] learned | |||
Imperfect | μαθαινόμουν | I was being learned | Past | μαθεύτηκα | I was learned |
Future Progressive | θα μαθαίνομαι | I will be being learned | Future | θα μαθευτώ | I will be learned |
Subjunctive Progressive | να μαθαίνομαι | to be being learned | Subjunctive | να μαθευτώ | to be learned |
Conditional Progressive | θα μαθαινόμουν | I would be learned | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα μαθεύτηκα | I [possibly] am learned |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να μαθαινόμουν | [I wish] I could be learned | Assumption | [πρέπει] να μαθεύτηκα | I [must] have been learned |
Imperative Progressive | να μαθαίνεσαι! | [start] being learned! | Imperative | να μαθευτείς! | be learned! |
Present Perfect | έχω μαθευτεί | I have been learned | |||
Pluperfect | είχα μαθευτεί | I had been learned | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω μαθευτεί | I will have been learned | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα μαθευτεί | I would have been learned | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | -- | (I learn myself?) | Past Participle | (“γνώθι σαυτόν”) | “learn thyself” |
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem υπο + -βαλλ- | Chocolate flavor: stem υπο + -βληθ- | ||||
Present | υποβάλλομαι | I am [being] submitted | |||
Imperfect | υποβαλλόμουν | I was being submitted | Past | υποβλήθηκα | I was submitted |
Future Progressive | θα υποβάλλομαι | I will be being submitted | Future | θα υποβληθώ | I will be submitted |
Subjunctive Progressive | να υποβάλλομαι | to be being submitted | Subjunctive | να υποβληθώ | to be submitted |
Conditional Progressive | θα υποβαλλόμουν | I would be submitted | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα υποβλήθηκα | I [possibly] am submitted |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να υποβαλλόμουν | [I wish] I could be submitted | Assumption | [πρέπει] να υποβλήθηκα | I [must] have been submitted |
Imperative Progressive | να υποβάλλεσαι! | [start] being submitted! | Imperative | να υποβληθείς! | be submitted! |
Present Perfect | έχω υποβληθεί | I have been submitted | |||
Pluperfect | είχα υποβληθεί | I had been submitted | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω υποβληθεί | I will have been submitted | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα υποβληθεί | I would have been submitted | |||
Past Participle | υποβληθέν, -θείσα, -θείς | submitted | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | υποβάλλομαι | I am subjected | Imperative Middle | υποβλήσου! | subject yourself! |
Note: υποβάλλω is a
compound prepositional verb, one of the most common constructs of
the base verb βάλλω, which
means “throw, pelt, hurl” (έβαλλα,
βάλω, έβαλα,
passive: βάλλομαι, βαλλόμουν, βληθώ,
βλήθηκα). (Note the identity
of forms βάλω and έβαλα with the corresponding ones of
the much more common βάζω = “I put”.)
Βάλλω is now rather obsolete and used only in formal
contexts (πετάω/πετώ is the regular verb meaning “throw,
pelt, hurl”), but what is important about βάλλω is that it
forms compounds with every preposition that there is,
including the rare αμφί. If verbs were chemical elements,
then βάλλω would be the fluorine of verbs! Its compounds are
listed below (in parentheses: imperfect,
subjunctive, past):
αμφιβάλλω (αμφί +
βάλλω): doubt (αμφέβαλλα,
αμφιβάλω, αμφέβαλα)
αναβάλλω (ανά +
βάλλω): postpone, put off (ανέβαλλα,
αναβάλω, ανέβαλα)
αντιβάλλω (αντί +
βάλλω): act against, oppose; compare against (αντέβαλλα, αντιβάλω,
αντέβαλα)
αποβάλλω (από +
βάλλω): expel; miscarry, abort; shed (απέβαλλα/απόβαλλα, αποβάλω,
απέβαλα/απόβαλα)
διαβάλλω (διά +
βάλλω): slander, defame, calumniate (διέβαλλα,
διαβάλω, διέβαλα)
εισβάλλω (εις +
βάλλω): invade (εισέβαλλα,
εισβάλω, εισέβαλα)
εκβάλλω (εκ + βάλλω):
utter (εξέβαλλα, εκβάλω, εξέβαλα)
εμβάλλω (εν + βάλλω):
introduce; put in (ενέβαλλα,
εμβάλω, ενέβαλα)
επιβάλλω (επί +
βάλλω): impose (επέβαλλα,
επιβάλω, επέβαλα)
επιβάλλομαι (επί +
βάλλομαι): prevail and hence dominate, win out (επιβαλλόμουν, επιβληθώ, επιβλήθηκα)
καταβάλλω (κατά +
βάλλω): overpower, trounce; weaken; toil, make an effort;
remunerate, pay (formal) (κατέβαλλα,
καταβάλω, κατέβαλα)
μεταβάλλω (μετά +
βάλλω): alter, change, transform (μετάβαλλα/μετέβαλλα, μεταβάλω,
μετάβαλα/μετέβαλα)
παραβάλλω (παρά +
βάλλω): compare, collate (παρέβαλλα/παράβαλλα, παραβάλω,
παρέβαλα/παράβαλα)
περιβάλλω (περί +
βάλλω): surround, encircle (περιέβαλλα,
περιβάλω, περιέβαλα)
προβάλλω (προ +
βάλλω): put forward, advance, raise; project (a film);
gradually appear (πρόβαλλα/προέβαλλα, προβάλω,
πρόβαλα/προέβαλα)
προσβάλλω (προς +
βάλλω): insult, offend; impair, harm (πρόσβαλλα/προσέβαλλα, προσβάλω, πρόσβαλα/προσέβαλα)
συμβάλλω (συν +
βάλλω): contribute (συνέβαλλα,
συμβάλω, συνέβαλα)
συμβάλλομαι (συν +
βάλλομαι): agree by contract (συμβαλλόμουν,
συμβληθώ, συμβλήθηκα)
υπερβάλλω (υπέρ +
βάλλω): exaggerate; surpass (υπερέβαλλα,
υπερβάλω, υπερέβαλα)
υποβάλλω (υπό +
βάλλω): submit; subject (see table above) (υπέβαλλα/υπόβαλλα,
υποβάλω, υπέβαλα/υπόβαλα)
Passive Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -πιν- | Chocolate flavor: stem -πιωθ- | ||||
Present | πίνομαι | I am [being] drunk [by sb.] | |||
Imperfect | πινόμουν | I was being drunk | Past | πιώθηκα | I was drunk [by sb.] |
Future Progressive | θα πίνομαι | I will be being drunk | Future | θα πιωθώ | I will be drunk |
Subjunctive Progressive | να πίνομαι | to be being drunk | Subjunctive | να πιωθώ | to be drunk |
Conditional Progressive | θα πινόμουν | I would be drunk | Judgment | [μάλλον] θα πιώθηκα | I [possibly] am drunk |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να πινόμουν | [I wish] I could be drunk | Assumption | [πρέπει] να πιώθηκα | I [must] have been drunk |
Imperative Progressive | να πίνεσαι! | [start] being drunk! | Imperative | να πιωθείς! | be drunk! |
Present Perfect | έχω πιωθεί | I have been drunk | |||
Pluperfect | είχα πιωθεί | I had been drunk | |||
Future Perfect | θα έχω πιωθεί | I will have been drunk | |||
Conditional Perfect | θα είχα πιωθεί | I would have been drunk | |||
Middle Voice | |||||
Present | πίνομαι | I am drinkable | Past Participle | πιωμένο, -νη, -νος | be drunk (inebriated) |
Note 1: Forms such as πιω, πιες, πιει, (under strawberry flavor) are all monosyllabic, hence not accented in writing. The ι serves merely to palatalize the initial π in such forms.
Note 2: The past participle has an almost exclusively middle voice sense in this verb, meaning “I am under the influence of alcohol”. However, all the other forms of πίνομαι do not have connotations with alcohol. For example, πίνομαι means exclusively “I am drunk by somebody / I am drinkable” (hence, for conceptual reasons, it appears mostly in the 3rd person: πίνεται), as in: το νερό πίνεται (“the water is drinkable”). The sense “I am drunk (under the influence of alcohol)” is given by: “είμαι πιωμένος” or, slightly more formally: “είμαι μεθυσμένος”.
Note 3: There is a compound verb derived from
πίνω by prepending the adverb πάρα (very):
παραπίνω (πάρα +
πίνω): drink too much alcohol, to the point of becoming, or
nearly becoming, drunk (παραέπινα,
παραπιώ, παραήπια)
Note 4: There is a single compound prepositional
verb formed by πίνω:
καταπίνω (κατά +
πίνω): swallow (κατάπινα,
καταπιώ, κατάπια)
Note: There is no English verb corresponding exactly to the meaning of παθαίνω. “Suffer” is more frequently translated as υποφέρω, whereas “undergo” corresponds more accurately to υφίσταμαι. Παθαίνω is like “suffer” but in the sense of “suffer damage” (=“παθαίνω ζημιά”) or “sustain loss”; not as is “suffer and feel pain (physical or psychological) from my suffering” (= “υποφέρω”).
Note: τυχαίνω, and its
more ancient/obsolete version τυγχάνω, form a few compound
prepositional verbs, listed below (in parentheses: imperfect, subjunctive,
past):
αποτυχαίνω (από +
τυχαίνω): fail (απoτύχαινα,
αποτύχω, απέτυχα)
αποτυγχάνω (από +
τυγχάνω): fail (αποτύγχανα,
αποτύχω, απέτυχα)
πετυχαίνω (επι +
τυχαίνω): succeed (πετύχαινα,
πετύχω, πέτυχα)
επιτυγχάνω (επί +
τυγχάνω): succeed (επιτύγχανα,
επιτύχω, επέτυχα)
Middle Voice | |||||
Vanilla flavor: stem -αρέσκ- | Chocolate flavor: -- | ||||
Present | αρέσκομαι | I prefer for myself / am preferring for myself | |||
Imperfect | αρεσκόμουν | I was preferring for myself | Past | -- | -- |
Future Progressive | θα αρέσκομαι | I will be preferring for myself | Future | -- | -- |
Subjunctive Progressive | να αρέσκομαι | to be preferring for myself | Subjunctive | -- | -- |
Conditional Progressive | θα αρεσκόμουν | I would be preferring for myself | Judgment | -- | -- |
Wish / Hope (Optative) | [ήθελα] να αρεσκόμουν | [I wish] I could be preferring for myself | Assumption | -- | -- |
Imperative Progressive | να αρέσκεσαι! | [start] preferring for yourself! | Imperative | -- | -- |
Present Perfect | -- | -- | |||
Pluperfect | -- | -- | |||
Future Perfect | -- | -- | |||
Conditional Perfect | -- | -- | |||
Passive Voice | |||||
-- | I am liked |
Note: Do not use θα άρεζα (conditional progressive, active voice) as the translation for I would like, as in “I would like a coffee”; for this expression, use “θα ήθελα” (e.g., “θα ήθελα έναν καφέ”). Θα άρεζα has the meaning I would like as in: “I would like this person if only he were more cheerful.”
...To be continued... Stay tuned...
Footnotes
1. The list of 1000 most common Greek words (or 1000 most common verbs, etc.), can be obtained from the pages of the Hellenic National Corpus™. To obtain the list do the following counter-intuitive actions: go to the link just given, and do not select the “English Interface” at the bottom, because its search function does not work (as of the last update of this page). On the Greek interface, there are four buttons at the top, just under the main title. The 3rd button reads: Αναζήτηση. Click on it. You are brought to a page with various options. Ignore all of them and look at the bottom, where the next-to-last link reads: Στατιστικά στοιχεία. This will bring you to this page, where you’ll see four links plus some edit-boxes and buttons. The first two links give the 100 and 1000 most common words (each form of a word included), and the next two links give the 100 and 1000 most common entries (where each entry summarizes all forms of a word). Disclaimer: if the above interface is now different, please forgive the obsoleteness of this description!
As an alternative method to finding statistics of usage, simple GoogleTM searches were also employed. This method gives results that are probably more faithful to the spoken language, because the majority of Greek web pages are written in colloquial Greek, rather than in literary, academic, or technical language.
2. Thanks to Greg Brush for several errata and suggestions he made available to me after reading this page.
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Page last updated on 04/12/2007 by Harry Foundalis