Verbal aspect: continuous or perfective?
The key to Greek verbs: every verb has two stems, one for ongoing and one for completed actions.
Almost every Greek verb has two stems:
| Continuous stem (present) | Perfective stem (aorist) | |
|---|---|---|
| meaning | process, repetition, duration | single, complete action |
| past | έγραφα (was writing) | έγραψα (wrote) |
| future | θα γράφω (will be writing) | θα γράψω (will write) |
| να-form | να γράφω | να γράψω |
| imperative | γράφε! | γράψε! |
With να and θα, the perfective stem is the default, used about 80% of the time. The continuous stem signals habit, duration or process.
- Θα σου γράψω αύριο.I'll write to you tomorrow. (once)
- Θα σου γράφω κάθε εβδομάδα.I'll write to you every week. (repeatedly)
Test yourself
-
Choose: Θέλω να (διαβάζω / διαβάσω) αυτό το βιβλίο.
Show answer
διαβάσω -
Choose: Πρέπει να (τρως / φας) λαχανικά κάθε μέρα.
Show answer
τρως -
Perfective stem of «πληρώνω»?
Show answer
πληρώσ- (θα πληρώσω) -
What does «θα γράφω» express?
Show answer
an ongoing or repeated future action