Thematic Progressive Middle and Passive Participles

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Introduction

The marker of the middle and passive participle is /όμενο/ (masculine and neuter) and /όμενα/ (feminine):

          λου/όμενο/ς > λουόμενος (masc. nom. sing.)
          λου/όμενα/L > λουομένη (fem. nom. sing.)
          λου/όμενο/ν > λουόμενον (neuter nom. sing.)

If middle, this may be translated “washing oneself” (reflexive) or “getting oneself washed” (causative). If passive, “being washed.”

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Intermediate

As with finite verbs, the same form of the participle is used for the middle and passive voices except in the future and aorist. In these instances, the passive has a distinct form from the middle.

The progressive middle participle has the following options for translation:

<examples>

If passive, the participle is translated like this:

<examples>

Remember: when identifying a participle in context, its voice can’t be “middle or passive.” It is one or the other, so be sure to clarify.

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To form the thematic progressive middle or passive participle, add /όμενο/ (masculine and neuter) and /όμενα/ (feminine) to the progressive stem. Then decline like a standard 2nd (masculine and neuter) or 1st (feminine) declension adjective.

BASE

progressive aspect marker(s)

/όμενο/ /όμενα/

2-1-2 case markers*

* Traditionally, forms of adjectives are listed in this order: masculine, feminine, neuter. In the case of the middle and passive participle, the masculine and neuter decline according to the 2nd declension and the feminine the 1st. For shorthand, we call these “2-1-2” adjectives.

As with the progressive active participle, the accent should naturally fall on the last syllable of the verb stem. However, because the marker /ομενο/ is three syllables, the accent has to move forward at least to the first ο (λού/ομενο/ς > λουόμενος).

<some examples>

The first ο in /όμενο/ and /όμενα/ is a theme vowel. It is absent in the athematic progressive middle and passive participle.