The Verb "To Be" εἶναι - Lesson 12 - "From Alpha to Omega" by Anne Groton

The Verb - "To Be" 

Notes on εἶναι

NOTE - "The present and imperfect tenses of εἰμί never have middle/passive endings; the future tense never has active endings. When you translate the future forms, pretend that their middle endings are active; e.g., translate ἔσομαι as "I shall be," not as "I shall by for myself.""

NOTE - "εἰμί is one of a number of Greek verbs that are deponent in at least one tense; i.e., in that tense they are always active in meaning but middle (or passive) in appearance." 

Deponent Verbs

NOTE - "Like, εἰμί the verbs ἀκούω and φεύγω are deponent in the future tense: ἀκούσομαι = 'I shall hear'; φεύξομαι = 'I shall flee.' There is no way to say 'I shall hear for myself' or 'I shall flee for myself' because the middle endings in the future tense of these verbs must be translated as if they were active endings." 

"It Is Possible" 
NOTE - "The third-person singular of εἰμί (in any tense) may show possibility. If so, the subject is usually an infinitive, and the person for whom the action is/was/will be possible appears in the accusative case; e.g., οὐκ ἦν τὴν κόπην φεύγειν = 'it was not possible for the girl to escape' or 'the girl could not escape.' 

Practice Sentences

1) On the one hand the words of the youth are worthy, on the other hand their manners are unworthy.

2) On account of the war we are in danger and we intend to flee through the countryside. 

3) On the one hand at least in the beginning of the war you were friends, on the other hand you are no longer. 

4) The road will be long but at least when we will find the sea, we will be free again and we will have peace.

5) But the enemy was turning into the house and was destroying the couches. 

6) But the horse is beautiful. Do not let it be released by the enemies. 

7) It is not possible for the servants however to have rule over the house.

8) On the one hand the slave will hear the words, but on the other hand he will not obey the master. 

9) Since the war was far away, they were free of dangers. 

10) Do y'all hasten to be friends to the master? Therefore be good and do not do hateful works.