Verb: Imperfect/Eluon εἰμί

GrammarVerb – Imperfect/Eluon εἰμί singular

Because εἰμί is a stative verb and the Aorist does not combine easily with states, there is no Aorist form of εἰμί. The only option for the past tense of εἰμί is Eluon.

fromLesson 15.2

MorphologyVerb – Imperfect/Eluon εἰμί singular

• All the forms start with η, which represents a lengthened vowel from a combination of the stem (εσ) and the initial ε augment.
• The 1s form’s ending, -μην, is identical to the 1s Eluon med-psv (see 21.3.3.1).
• The 2s form has the characteristic ς; two occurrences have an additional -θα (Matt 26:29; Mark 14:67).
• The 3s form has the characteristic ν, but it isn’t moveable.

fromLesson 15.2

MorphologyVerb – Imperfect/Eluon εἰμί plural

• Remember: εἰμί imperfect forms start with a lengthened η stem (see 15.2.3.1).
• The 1s and 1p forms look very similar (ἤμην and ἦμεν), but sometimes the med-psv ending ‘-μεθα’ is used for the 1p.
• The 3p ending is -σαν like the 3p Elusa ending (see 14.1.3.1).

fromLesson 16.4

SyntaxVerb – εἰμί (used initially)

All different kinds of word orders are possible in Greek, and sentences with the copula are no exception. What is different about the copula is that an initial copula is often interpreted differently from a copula found in other parts of the sentence:

fromLesson 16.4

SemanticsVerb – εἰμί Eluon (2 – stative and lifetime effects)

Unlike the perfective Aorist form, Eluon says nothing about the endpoints of the eventuality it combines with. States also do not have a natural endpoint. This makes the Eluon form combine straightforwardly with the copula verb εἰμί and other states. It simply means that the state holds at some past time.

States can be either temporal or permanent. In Greek, the copula with the Eluon form can be used with both kinds of states. We see an example of a temporal state in Mark 1:6 where John is said to be dressed with camel’s hair. Although there is no natural endpoint to any state, we know that this kind of state is changeable, so it is temporal. If John were dressed in something different, a new state would hold. Permanent states are also possible with Eluon:

• (131) Lifetime effect with Eluon and permanent states
• προφήτης ἦν (Mark 11:32)

fromLesson 15.2

SemanticsVerb – εἰμί (existential use)

How do we interpret Luke 2:36 if there is no predicate in the sentence? Copulas at the beginning of the clause are often interpreted in Greek as existential sentences. These are sentences that assert the existence or location of something or someone. At this point in Luke’s story, Anna has not yet been introduced, so this cannot be saying that Anna is a prophetess. We don’t even know who Anna is yet. As a way to introduce someone in a story, the copula may be used in initial position to tell the reader that that person will now be part of the story (see 46.4.3.2 for various other uses and a more detailed discussion of existential sentences).

fromLesson 16.4