Chapter 31 · Lesson 31.1 · Participle

Participle – Elusa middle

1 min read3-question quiz

ObjectivesLearning objectives

  • The morphology of the Elusa middle participle
  • The semantics of middle verbs and changes of state

VocabularyVocabulary

GreekGlossPart of speechParadigm
ἄνωθενfrom aboveadverb
ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅ τιwhoevernoun46.3.3.1
ἡ ἄμπελος, -ουthe grapevinenounB.a.β.i
παρίστημί σοί τινα(I) present you (dat) something/one (acc)verbC.a.ε
ἐπιλαμβάνομαί τινος(I) take hold of something/one (gen)verbC.a.α
προσκαλεῖ σε(he) summons you (acc)verbC.a.β

MorphologyMorphology: Participle – Elusa middle

  • Remember: mid ptcps add -μεν- to the stem, with case, gender, and number endings (see 20.3.3.1)
  • The typical ‘-σα-’ of Elusa is placed before the -μεν-
Morphology: Participle – Elusa middle
MasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominative singularγευ-σάμεν-οςγευ-σαμέν-ηγευ-σάμεν-ον
Genitive singularγευ-σαμέν-ουγευ-σαμέν-ηςγευ-σαμέν-ου
Dative singularγευ-σαμέν-ῳγευ-σαμέν-ῃγευ-σαμέν-ῳ
Accusative singularγευ-σάμεν-ονγευ-σαμέν-ηνγευ-σάμεν-ον
Nominative pluralγευ-σάμεν-οιγευ-σάμεν-αιγευ-σάμεν-α
Genitive pluralγευ-σαμέν-ωνγευ-σαμέν-ωνγευ-σαμέν-ων
Dative pluralγευ-σαμέν-οιςγευ-σαμέν-αιςγευ-σαμέν-οις
Accusative pluralγευ-σαμέν-ουςγευ-σαμέν-αςγευ-σάμεν-α

SemanticsSemantics: Verb – Middle (3 – Change of state)

Verb – Middle: all 4 parts on one page →Also in Lesson 23.1, Lesson 24.1, Lesson 33.2

Middle verbs often have a change of state interpretation. For example, the middle verb κοιμᾶται ‘fall asleep’ refers to the change from not sleeping to sleeping, but the active verb καθεύδω refers to the state of sleeping:

Example 286Change of state

Λάζαρος ὁ φίλος ἡμῶν κεκοίμηται (John 11:11)

Lazarus, our friend, has fallen asleep

Although middle verbs will not always entail a change of state, this is a common use (see Syntax B for further discussion).

Lesson 31.1 quiz

Check your understanding

3 questions · self-graded

  1. 1Which form is the feminine nominative singular of the Elusa middle participle built on γευ-?
  2. 2In the Elusa middle participle, the typical -σα- of Elusa comes after the -μεν-.True or false
  3. 3How does the middle verb κοιμᾶται 'fall asleep' differ in meaning from the active καθεύδω?

Become a fluent reader of the biblical languages

Biblingo is the only language-learning app (mobile and web) that provides everything you need to go from zero knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, and Latin to reading the Bible in its original and historic languages — all in one place.

Start Free Trial

New Testament text shown on hover: Greek from the SBLGNT, © 2010 Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0; English from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain).