Introduction#

[[TODO|Verbs]] in [[./index|Modern Greek]] [[TODO|inflect]] for [[TODO|person]], [[TODO|number]], [[TODO|tense]], [[TODO|aspect]], [[TODO|voice]] and [[TODO|mood]].

Person#

[[TODO|Verbs]] in [[./index|Modern Greek]] can be in one of three persons - first, second or third. The person is so

Voice#

Verbs in [[./index|Modern Greek]] can be either in the active voice or the mediopassive voice. The voice is indicated by a verb's stem and the ending it takes.

In general, the two voices are used as follows:
- The active voice indicates that the action is being done by the subject of the sentence;
- The medio-passive voice indicates that the action is being done to the subject of the sentence.

However, certain verbs, known as deponent verbs, always use the passive-voice endings but have an active meaning when translated in English.

Aspect#

The [[TODO|aspect]] (ποιόν ενεργείας) of a [[Verbs#Verbs|verb]] shows how the action is perceived by the speaker. Every [[Verbs|verb]] in [[./index|Modern Greek]] is in one of three [[TODO|aspects]]:
- The imperfective aspect (ατελές) represent actions which are perceived to be in progress, habitual or repeated.
- The perfective aspect (τέλειο) represents actions which are perceived as a completed whole or in a neutral way, without reference to duration or frequency;
- The perfect aspect (συντελεσμένο) also represents actions which are perceived as a completed whole but puts more emphasis on the result of those actions rather than the actions themselves.

Whether a [[Verbs|verb]] is [[Verbs#Aspect|imperfective]] or [[Verbs#Aspect|perfective]] is marked by its stem. The [[Verbs#Aspect|perfect aspect]] is formed by adding the suffix -ει to a [[Verbs#Aspect|perfective stem]]. The forms of the [[Verbs#Aspect|perfect aspect]] are also known as nonfinite forms because they are only used in specific constructions and do not change by adding endings.

The vast majority of [[Verbs|verbs]] have forms for both the [[Verbs#Aspect|imperfective]] and the [[Verbs#Aspect|perfective]], but some exist in only one or the other. As such, if a [[Verbs|verb]] does not exist in the [[Verbs#Aspect|perfective]], then it also cannot exist in the [[Verbs#Aspect|perfect]].

Many [[Verbs|verbs]] can be categorized depending on the patterns followed by their [[Verbs#Aspect|imperfective]] and the [[Verbs#Aspect|perfective]] stems.

However, there are also many [[Verbs|verbs]] which do not follow any of these rules and so their stems must be memorized separately.

Mood#

There are three moods exhibited by [[Verbs|verbs]] in [[./index|Modern Greek]] - indicative, imperative and subjunctive.

Tense#

There is a [[TODO|tense]] for each combination of time (past, present, future) and [[Verbs#Aspect|aspect]] (imperfective, perfective, perfect) for a total of 9 tenses.

All of these tenses can exist both in the [[Verbs#Voice|active]] and in the [[Verbs#Voice|mediopassive voice]] and in [[TODO|indicative]] and the [[TODO|subjunctive]], except for the dependent which can only be used in the [[TODO|subjunctive]].

Conjugation#

[[Verbs|Verbs]] in [[./index|Modern Greek]] are divided into two major groups (συζυγία) depending on where the [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stress]] falls in the [[Verbs#Tense|imperfective present]]:
- First-conjugation verbs (α' συζυγία) are [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stressed]] on the last [[Orthography and Phonology#Syllabification|syllable]] before the ending
- Second-conjugation verbs (β' συζυγία) are [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stressed]] on the ending.

Second-conjugation verbs are further divided into two subgroups depending on the characteristic element of their endings:
- Type A (β1 τάξη) have a characteristic -α-;
- Type B (β2 τάξη) have a characteristic -ει-.

Present#

To conjugate a [[Verbs|verb]] in the Present Tense (Ενεστώτας), the appropriate ending is attached to the [[Verbs#Aspect|imperfective stem]].

Of the two alternative forms for the [[Verbs#Voice|active]] [[TODO|third-person]] [[TODO|plural]], the -ουνε form is often used in colloquial speech, but less so in formal contexts.

Of the two alternative forms for the [[Verbs#Voice|mediopassive]] [[TODO|second-person]] [[TODO|plural]], the -εστε form is preferred in formal use, while the form in -όσαστε is more colloquial.

The choice between the alternative endings is largely a matter of personal preference.

Dependent#

To conjugate a [[Verbs|verb]] in the dependent tense, the appropriate ending is added to the appropriate [[Verbs#Aspect|perfective]] stem. All [[Verbs#Conjugation|conjugations]] use the same endings for the [[Verbs#Dependent|dependent]].

Present Perfect#

The present perfect is formed by conjugating the verb [[Verbs#TODO|έχω ("to have")]] in the [[Verbs#Present|present]] and combining it with the [[Verbs#Aspect|perfect aspect]].

Imperfect Tense#

For the most part, the imperfect tense is built by attaching the appropriate ending to the [[Verbs#Aspect|imperfective stem]].

In the [[Verbs#Voice|active voice]], an ε-, known as a syllabic augment, is prepended to the stem of a [[Verbs#Conjugation|first-conjugation]] verb when the following conditions are simultaneously fulfilled:
- The stem has only one syllable.
- The stem begins with a consonant.
- The attached ending has only one syllable.

In the [[Verbs#Voice|active voice]], when the the stem of [[Verbs#Conjugation|first-conjugation]] verbs start with ε-, α- or αι-, this initial vowel may change to η-. This occurs only with a small number of verbs and mostly when the vowel is [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stressed]]. This is known as a vocalic augment.

The [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stress]] always falls as much to the left as possible, unless the ending itself is stressed.

There is also an alternative set of endings for [[Verbs#Conjugation|second-conjugation]] verbs of Type A for the [[Verbs#Voice|active voice]]. Their use is common in some regions but rare in others and they are avoided in formal contexts. When these endings are used, the [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stress]] is always [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|proparoxytone]].

Simple Past#

The [[Verbs#Tense|simple past]] is constructed by attaching the appropriate ending to the [[Verbs#Aspect|perfective stem]] of the [[Verbs|verb]]. All [[Verbs|verbs]] use the same endings but [[Verbs#Conjugation|first-conjugation verbs]] are subject to the exact same augment rules which apply to the [[Verbs#Imperfect Tense|imperfective tense]]. Furthermore, the [[Verbs#Voice|passive]] endings are the same as the [[Verbs#Voice|active]] ones but with -ηκ- prepended.

The [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stress]] is always much to the left as possible.

Past Perfect#

The present perfect is formed by conjugating the verb [[Verbs#TODO|έχω ("to have")]] in the [[Verbs#Imperfect Tense|imperfect]] and combining it with the [[Verbs#Aspect|perfect aspect]].

Future Continuous#

The [[Verbs#Tense|future continuous]] is constructed with the particle "θα" and the [[Verbs#Present|present]].

Future Simple#

The [[Verbs#Tense|future simple]] is constructed using the particle "θα" and conjugating for the [[Verbs#Dependent|dependent]].

Imperative#

The [[Verbs#Mood|imperative]] exists only in the [[TODO|second-person]]. It has forms for both [[TODO|numbers]], [[TODO|voices]] the [[TODO|imperfective]] and the [[TODO|perfective]]. However, there is no [[Verbs#Voice|passive]] [[Verbs#Aspect|imperfective]] [[Verbs#Mood|imperative]].

Active Imperfective Imperative#

The [[Verbs#Voice|active]] [[Verbs#Aspect|imperfective]] [[Verbs#Mood|imperative]] is formed by adding the appropriate ending to the [[Verbs#Aspect|imperfective stem]].

In the forms for [[Verbs#Conjugation|first-conjugation verbs]], the [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stress]] falls as much to the left as possible. The forms for [[Verbs#Conjugation|second-conjugation verbs]] of Type A have [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|paroxytone stress]]. [[Verbs#Conjugation|Second-conjugation verbs]] of Type B do not have a form for the [[TODO|singular]].

Active Perfective Imperative#

The [[Verbs#Voice|active]] [[TODO|perfective imperative]] is formed via the addition of an appropriate ending to the [[Verbs#Voice|active]] [[Verbs#Aspect|perfective stem]].

[[Verbs#Conjugation|First-conjugation]] verbs are stressed as much to the left as possible.

The [[Verbs#Number|singular]] ending of [[Verbs#Conjugation|first-conjugation]] verbs is often dropped when followed by a [[Pronouns#Personal Pronouns|weak third-person pronoun]] or a [[Articles|definite article]] in the [[TODO|genitive]] or the [[TODO|accusative]]. The same thing happens with the verb "κάνω" and also occurs with the verb "δίνω" but when followed by a [[Pronouns#Personal Pronouns|weak first-person pronoun]]. This is usually marked by an apostrophe.

The [[Verbs#Number|plural]] ending of [[Verbs#Conjugation|first-conjugation]] verbs is usually reduced to -τε when the stem ends in one of λ, ρ, σ, ξ, ψ, but may retain its full form in formal contexts. Some verbs with a stem ending in -v- may also have this reduced ending.

When the stem of a [[Verbs#Conjugation|first-conjugation]] verb ends in ξ or ψ, this final letter may change to χ or φ, respectively.

[[Verbs#Conjugation|Second-conjugation]] verbs usually reduce the [[Verbs#Number|plural]] ending to just -τε. The full ending is only encountered in formal contexts.

The [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stress]] is [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|proparoxytone]] in the [[Verbs#Number|singular]] and [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|paroxytone]] in the [[Verbs#Number|plural]]. When the full ending -ετε is used, the [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stress]] is [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|proparoxytone]] in the [[Verbs#Number|plural]] as well.

Passive Perfective Imperative#

The passive perfective imperative is formed by adding the appropriate ending to the appropriate stem.

The [[Verbs#Number|singular]] is built by adding the ending to the [[Verbs#Voice|active]] [[Verbs#Aspect|perfective stem]] and is [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stressed]] as much to the left as possible.

The [[Verbs#Number|plural]] is built by adding the ending to the [[Verbs#Voice|passive]] [[Verbs#Aspect|perfective stem]].

Irregular Verbs#

Many [[Verbs|verbs]], some of which are very common, exhibit irregularities when [[Verbs#Conjugation|conjugated]].