While many verbs follow regular patterns for forming the aorist middle-passive, some verbs are much less predictable and do not look like the examples you have already seen in this chapter’s other lessons. The tables below include these forms, all of which have been grouped together as much as possible to show similar patterns. In many cases, Ancient Greek will be helpful.
First, compare some of the following verbs in the present passive and then the aorist passive, first in Ancient Greek and then in Modern Greek.
- εὑρίσκομαι → ηὑρέθην → βρίσκομαι → βρέθηκα
- λέγομαι → ἐλέχθην → λέγομαι → λέχθηκα
- δίδομαι → ἐδόθην → δίνομαι → δόθηκα
In this verb we see how the diphthong eὑr /eur/ evolved into eur /evr/ and finally to vr /vr/). Here, there is also a second form from the Aorist B’ → eipóthika (from eîpon) dídomai → edóthēn → dínomai → dóthika Some verbs in the Middle Passive Aorist derive their stem from the Aorist B’ The verb blépo in ancient was horṓ and had Aorist B’ eîdon. In m.g., the Passive Aorist is eid-ṓthika. Similarly, the verb mathaíno in ancient was manthánō and had Aorist B’ emathon. In m.g., the Passive Aorist is math-eútika.
Let’s now look at another interesting category. Let’s see the examples. All come from the Passive Aorist B’ which does not retain the -th-, e.g., gráfomai → egraphthēn but also egráphēn. chaíromai → echárēn → chaíromai → chárēka phaínomai → ephánēn → phaínomai → phánēka BUT the compound apofaínomai takes the Passive Aorist from the ancient ephánthēn and becomes apofánthēka. kóptomai → ekópēn → kóvomai → kópēka trépomai → etrápēn → trépomai → trápēka Similarly, epitrépomai → epetrápēn → epitrepomai → epitrapēka The Modern Greek verb ntrépomai (meaning I am shy/ashamed) comes from the ancient entrépomai, that is en + trépomai. Thus, in m.g., trépomai becomes trápēka and ntrépomai … ntrápēka. What do we observe in these verbs? They do not retain the -th- And some change the stem vowel to -a-. See these and other verbs in the table below the video.
Now to the category of verbs that before their ending have a nasal (m, n) or liquid (l, r) consonant. Most of these retain the consonants m, n, l, r before the ending -thēk-. aisthánomai → aisthánthēka stélnomai → stálthēka. Here, of course, sometimes the more a.g. estálē is also used. féromai → férthēka Some other verbs in this group, however, do not retain the consonants m, n, l, r. krínomai → kríthēka (as in the ancient ekríthēn)
Finally, there is a group of verbs with more peculiar irregularities that cannot easily fit into a pattern. They are found in the last table.
Irregular verbs in every language are quite demanding and require study and practice. Try to find patterns and common elements with ancient Greek that will help you remember them. Each time, with repetition and practice, you will remember them even better.
kóvō – kóvomai ékopsa kópēka Note that these verbs follow the pattern of the 2nd Passive Aorist which drops the -th-, like egráphēn, ekópēn.
Some verbs do form both of the Passive Aorists, e.g. gráftīka, gráfīka.
Also note the change of the stem vowel in these cases from -e- to -a-. stréfō – stréfomai éstrepsa stráphēka epistréfō – epistréfomai epéstrepsa epistráphēka