Verb: Luo/Aorist active imperative

GrammarVerb – Luo/Aorist active imperative

An imperative (abbreviated impv) is a verbal form that prototypically gives a command, e.g. Go! Although imperatives are not marked for tense in Greek, they are marked for aspect and voice.

fromLesson 22.1

MorphologyVerb – Luo/Aorist active imperative

• The Luo and Efagon endings are -ε and -ετε.
• The 2p Luo ind and impv forms are identical (e.g. λαμβάνετε), and can only be distinguished by context.
• The accenting is usually regressive, but some 2s Efagon forms (e.g. εἰπέ and ἐλθέ) have an acute on the ultima.
• The Elusa endings are -σον and -σατε.

fromLesson 22.1

SyntaxVerb – Imperative

Imperatives come at the beginning of the clause in many languages. This characteristic is related to the fact that the subject is implicit in imperatives, since it is necessarily to the addressee. Because we don’t see the subject and the object normally follows the verb, we normally have VO order in imperative clauses.

fromLesson 22.1

SemanticsVerb – Imperative (1 – command)

When used as a command, imperatives are a way for the speaker to put an obligation on the addressee to do something. The obligation takes effect immediately, right when the speaker utters the imperative, but the time when the addressee is required to complete the action may vary depending on the nature of the command:

• (191) To be completed immediately (single event)
• The disciples were urging Jesus saying ῥαββί, φάγε [Rabbi, eat!] (John 4:31)
• (192) To be completed later (multiple events)

fromLesson 22.1