Liquid Verbs, Reciprocals, and Possessives

A future without a visible σ

Verbs whose stems end in λ, μ, ν, or ρ are conventionally called liquid verbs, grouping liquids and nasals. Their future commonly has contracted endings rather than the obvious σ of λύσω: μένω gives μενῶ, 'I will remain'. The pattern μενῶ, μενεῖς, μενεῖ, μενοῦμεν, μενεῖτε, μενοῦσιν resembles the present of an ε-contract verb.

Do not decide 'present' merely because σ is absent. Compare present μένει, 'he remains', with future μενεῖ, 'he will remain'. Accent and the known principal part help distinguish them. The future stem may also differ: ἀποστέλλω has ἀποστελῶ.

The aorist of many such verbs also lacks σ and changes the stem vowel: μένω gives ἔμεινα and ἀποστέλλω gives ἀπέστειλα. These use first-aorist endings despite the missing σ. κρίνω gives ἔκρινα, so do not assume every liquid aorist visibly adds ει. Learn the actual third principal part.

• μενοῦμεν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ. — We will remain in the house.
• ὁ κύριος ἀπέστειλε τὸν μαθητήν. — The Lord sent out the disciple.

One another

The reciprocal pronoun ἀλλήλων means 'one another'. It expresses a mutual relationship among multiple people: οἱ μαθηταὶ ἀγαπῶσιν ἀλλήλους, 'the disciples love one another'. A reflexive, by contrast, points each person back to themselves.

It has plural oblique forms but no normal nominative: genitive ἀλλήλων, masculine/neuter dative ἀλλήλοις, masculine accusative ἀλλήλους. Feminine dative is ἀλλήλαις and feminine accusative ἀλλήλας. The neuter accusative ἄλληλα refers to things.

Choose the case from its job: love one another uses an accusative object; speak to one another uses a dative recipient; with one another uses μετά plus genitive. The English phrase stays similar while Greek endings change.

• λέγουσιν ἀλλήλοις. — They speak to one another.
• μετ᾽ ἀλλήλων — with one another

Possessive adjectives

Greek may express possession with a pronoun in the genitive, such as μου, 'my', or with a possessive adjective: ἐμός, ἐμή, ἐμόν, 'my'; σός, σή, σόν, 'your'; ἡμέτερος, 'our'; ὑμέτερος, 'your [plural]'. These adjectives follow the familiar first/second-declension patterns.

A possessive adjective agrees with the thing possessed, not the owner. ἡ ἐμὴ οἰκία uses feminine ἐμή because οἰκία is feminine, regardless of who owns the house. ὁ ἐμὸς λόγος has masculine agreement with λόγος.

Possessives often carry emphasis or contrast, but their force must be read in context. They can stand without a noun: τὰ ἐμά, 'my things / what is mine'. Compare that with ἐμαυτόν, 'myself': these are different constructions, despite their similar beginnings.

• ὁ ἐμὸς λόγος καὶ ὁ σὸς λόγος — my message and your message
• ἡ ἡμετέρα οἰκία — our house

Vocabulary (12)

ἐγείρω

I awaken, raise up

κρίνω

I judge, decide

ἀποστέλλω

I send out, dispatch

εἰρήνη, ἡ

peace

ἀλλήλων

of one another; reciprocal plural

ἐμός, -ή, -όν

my, mine

σός, σή, σόν

your, yours (singular owner)

ἡμέτερος, -α, -ον

our, ours

ὑμέτερος, -α, -ον

your, yours (plural owners)

αἴρω

I lift, raise; I take away

σπείρω

I sow

ἀποκρίνομαι (ἀπεκρίθην)

I answer (aorist ἀπεκρίθην, passive form)