imperfect and aorist?

Use this forum to organize a study group around a specific textbook. Before starting, you might wish to advertise your plan on other forums first.
Post Reply
Jacqueline
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 1:41 pm
Location: Dartford

imperfect and aorist?

Post by Jacqueline »

hello everyone

I am a little confused over the imperfect and the first aorist tense. The example in the white book for imperfect is 'I loosed' (I can see how 'I was loosing' suggests continuance) ,this is the same as the example for aorist 'I loosed'. How would you distinguish between the two, i can see the greek spelling is different but how would you distinguish it within an english sentance? just for reference! I didn't learn tenses at school.... :(

if anyone could give an example sentance that would be really helpful!

Thanks!

Bert
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1889
Joined: Sat May 31, 2003 2:28 am
Location: Arthur Ontario Canada

Post by Bert »

The translations White gives are; I was loosing, I loosed.
I was loosing gives expression to the imperfective aspect (continuance).
At times when translating, this gives a stilted English sentence. Then it might be better to go for I loosed.
The aorist does not say what type of action it was. It just says that it occurred (usually past time), so if you translate it as I was loosing, you are saying more than the Greek tells you. (Unless context suggests it.)

ximo
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 25
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:17 pm
Location: Spain

Post by ximo »

In ancient Greek the imperfect express a durative action, it lasts some time. On the other hand, the aorist expresses a punctual or momentaneous action. In English sometimes it's not easy to tranlate the imperfect, because the past tense usually reflects more the idea of the aorist. For the imperfect you have to use the past continuous "I was sleeping" or expressions that express this durativeness "I used to study"... For the aorist the past usually is a correct translation "I studied".

HenryClay
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:31 pm

Post by HenryClay »

Just to add a little to what was said here:

The imperfect is a has tense and aspect: it is past time and progressive aspect. Although the tense is more important.

The aorist is simply aspectual--it can refer to present or past time.

For example, e/thuon: I sacrificed can only refer to past time since it is imperfect. e/thusa can be present or past. I sacrificed (right now) or I sacrificed (ten years ago).

antianira
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2005 2:25 pm

Post by antianira »

I'm having problems with this as well....But what does "I loose; I was loosing" mean? I've never hear 'loose' used as a verb, unless it is supposed to be lose, or loosen.

Bert
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1889
Joined: Sat May 31, 2003 2:28 am
Location: Arthur Ontario Canada

Post by Bert »

antianira wrote:I'm having problems with this as well....But what does "I loose; I was loosing" mean? I've never hear 'loose' used as a verb, unless it is supposed to be lose, or loosen.
[size=150]λύω[/size] is used as the example verb because it has such a nice short and easily recognizable stem. That makes it easy to see the augments and endings. The tranlation of it seems a little silly though.
Loose means undo, as in I untie my shoe.
It can also mean destroy.
As the translation in the paradigms untie would sound better than loose.

User avatar
rustymason
Textkit Fan
Posts: 240
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2005 8:26 pm
Location: Sugar Land, TX

Greek Pluperfect?

Post by rustymason »

Does Greek have a pluperfect?

Bert
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1889
Joined: Sat May 31, 2003 2:28 am
Location: Arthur Ontario Canada

Re: Greek Pluperfect?

Post by Bert »

rustymason wrote:Does Greek have a pluperfect?
Yep

User avatar
rustymason
Textkit Fan
Posts: 240
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2005 8:26 pm
Location: Sugar Land, TX

Loose!

Post by rustymason »

Whenever I look at the [size=150]λύω[/size] paradigms, I think of some ancient commander, right before an attack, shouting, "At my command, loose hell!" or of the commands of the catapulta and archery captains, "Loose!"

Kinda adds a little excitement to my study time.[face=Arial][/face]

Post Reply