Progressive Optative

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Introduction

The core marker of the optative is the glide /y/, spelled with iota.

In thematic verbs (and /νυ/μι verbs), the marker appears as /οι/:

<examples>

In athematic verbs and /μι verbs, it appears as /ι/ or /ιη/:

<examples>

κἄπειτα ἐπειρώμην αὐτῷ δεικνύναι ὅτι οἴοιτο μὲν εἶναι σοφός, εἴη δ’ οὔ. 21c7-8

For uses of the optative, see here.

<is ι/ an exception??>

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Intermediate

The progressive optative of thematic verbs, as well as of /νυ/μι verbs, is formed by adding /οι/ to the progressive stem followed by mostly expected athematic personal markers in the active:

put into a chart: /μι, /ς, /ø, /μεν, /τε, /εν (put all these charts into the intro section? )

The progressive middle and passive uses athematic personal markers otherwise associated with past time verbs:

put into a chart /μην, /σο, /το, /μεθα, /σθε, /ντο

However, the use of these personal markers does not make the optative past time. The time of the optative is determined by the context of the sentence. What we know as past time personal markers were originally default personal markers. So their use here is purely a grammatical feature of the optative’s formation.

i feel like this should be written out better. Also hyperlinked, of course

Present Progressive Optative Active: λεγ/, “say” (thematic)

	Singular	Plural
1st Person	λεγ/οι/μι > λέγοιμι	λεγ/οι/μεν > λέγοιμεν
2nd Person	λεγ/οι/ς > λέγοις	λεγ/οι/τε > λέγοιτε
3rd Person	λεγ/οι/ø > λέγοι	λεγ/οι/εν > λέγοιεν

Present Progressive Optative Middle or Passive: λεγ/, “say” (thematic)

	Singular	Plural
1st Person	λεγ/οι/μην > λεγοίμην	λεγ/οι/μεθα > λεγοίμεθα
2nd Person	λεγ/οι/σο > λέγοιο	λεγ/οι/σθε > λέγοισθε
3rd Person	λεγ/οι/το > λέγοιτο	λεγ/οι/ντο > λέγοιντο

In the progressive optative of athematic verbs (namely, /μι verbs, except those in /νυ/μι), to the progressive stem /ιη/ is added in the singular active and /ι/ in the plural active. The marker /ι/ is added to both numbers of the middle and passive. Mostly expected athematic personal markers are used:

put in charts /ν, /ς, /ø, /μεν, /τε, /εν in the active; /μην, /σο, /το, /μεθα, /σθε, /ντο in the middle/passive

Present Progressive Optative Active: δο/, “give” (athematic)

	Singular	Plural
1st Person	δι/δο/ιη/ν > διδοίην	δι/δο/ι/μεν > διδοῖμεν
2nd Person	δι/δο/ιη/ς > διδοίης	δι/δο/ι/τε > διδοῖτε
3rd Person	δι/δο/ιη/ø > διδοίη	δι/δο/ι/εν > διδοῖεν

In later Greek, /ιη/ appears also in the plural, and the more familiar athematic 3rd person marker /σαν may be used in place of /εν.

(1) define “later Greek” (2) give an example and (3) explain accent in plural.

Present Progressive Optative Middle or Passive: δο/, “give” (athematic)

	Singular	Plural
1st Person	δι/δο/ι/μην > διδοίμην	δι/δο/ι/μεθα > διδοίμεθα
2nd Person	δι/δο/ι/σο > διδοῖο	δι/δο/ι/σθε > διδοῖσθε
3rd Person	δι/δο/ι/το > διδοῖτο	δι/δο/ι/ντο > διδοῖντο

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Vocabulary for this lesson (see here for the full lexicon)