Lesson_015_Attic_Greek_Grammar

Question 1

In Attic Greek, A contract verb is a verb whose present stem ends in -α, -ε, or -ο. Whenever the regular endings for present tense or imperfect tense, are added to such a stem, its final vowel contracts with the initial vowel of each ending. Verbs whose present stem ends in a vowel other than -α, -ε , or -ο do not undergo contraction (e.g., λύω, παύω, παιδεύω, ἀκούω, ἐσθίω, παίω, κλείω).

Answer 1

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #162

Question 2

In Attic Greek, General Principles for Contracting Vowel: (1) The result of every contraction is either a long vowel (α, η, ω) or a diphthong (ᾳ, ῃ, ῳ, ει, οι, ου). (2) An ο/ω-sound prevails over an α/ᾱ-sound or an ε/η-sound, regardless of which of the two sounds first (e.g., α + ο = ω, not ᾱ). (3) When an α/ᾱ-sound combines with ε/η-sound, the first of the two sounds prevails (e.g., α + ε = ᾱ, not η). (4) The iota in a diphthong is never lost through contraction, but it is written as a subscript if the new diphthong begins with a long vowel (e.g., α + ει = ᾳ). (5) Two epsilons contract to ει, not η; two omicrons contract to ου, not ω; epsilon and omicron, regardless of their order contract to ου, not ω. Thus, if a contraction involves only epsilons, only omicrons, or only an epsilon and an omicron, a diphthong rather than a long vowel will be the result.

Answer 2

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #163

Question 3

In Attic Greek, the long vowel or diphthong resulting from a contraction takes an acute if the second of the contracting letters would have had an acute (by the rules for recessive accent) in the uncontracted form (e.g., τιμάτω from τιμαέτω).

Answer 3

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #164

Question 4

In Attic Greek, If the first of the contracting letters would have had an acute, the long vowel or diphthong takes a circumflex (e.g., τιμᾷ from τιμάει).

Answer 4

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #165

Question 5

In Attic Greek, If neither of the contracting vowels or diphthongs would have had an accent, the word is accented exactly as it would have been in the uncontracted form (e.g., ἐτίμα from ἐτίμαε).

Answer 5

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #166

Question 6

In Attic Greek, Contract verbs contract only in the tenses built on the present stem, i.e., in the present and the imperfect. In the other tenses, the final vowel of the stem is lengthened (α → ᾱ if ε, ι, or ρ precedes, otherwise η; ε → η; ο → ω), and then the normal endings are added (e.g., τιμάω, τιμήσω; φιλέω, φιλήσω, δηλόω, δηλώσω).

Answer 6

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #167

Question 7

In Attic Greek, The first principal part of contract verb is left uncontracted to show which vowel ends the stem, but when the first-person singular present active indicative is used in a sentence or in any context other than a list of principal parts, it should always be contracted (e.g., τιμάω should be written as τιμῶ).

Answer 7

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #168

Question 8

In Attic Greek, If you understand the principles of contraction, you should have no need to memorize the endings of contract verbs.

Answer 8

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #169