How to Use Greek Infinitives and Participles in Sentences

What is the Infinitive in Greek?

The infinitive in Greek is a non-finite verb form that expresses the action or state without specifying the subject or tense. Unlike English, modern Greek uses the infinitive less frequently, but it is still important to understand its forms and uses, especially in older texts and formal language.

Forms of the Greek Infinitive

Greek infinitives are formed by adding specific endings to the verb stem. For example, the verb γράφω (to write) has the infinitive γράφειν in Ancient Greek. In Modern Greek, the infinitive is often replaced by subordinate clauses with the particle να plus the verb in the subjunctive.

What are Participles in Greek?

Participles in Greek are verbal adjectives that share properties of both verbs and adjectives. They can express tense and voice and agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify.

Types of Greek Participles

Greek participles come in several tenses and voices, including present active, aorist active, perfect active, and their passive counterparts. For example, the present active participle of γράφω is γράφων (masculine singular), meaning "writing".

Using Infinitives and Participles in Sentences

In Greek, infinitives and participles can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Participles often provide additional information about the action, such as time or cause, while infinitives can express purpose or intention.

Examples of Greek Infinitives and Participles

Here are some examples to illustrate their use:

• Infinitive: θέλω να γράψω – "I want to write" (literally "I want that I write")
• Present participle: ο γράφων άνδρας – "the man who is writing"
• Aorist participle: γράφοντας το γράμμα – "having written the letter"

Tips for English Speakers Learning Greek Infinitives and Participles

Because Greek participles agree in gender, number, and case, it is important to learn their endings carefully. Also, remember that Modern Greek often replaces the infinitive with the particle να plus the subjunctive, so focus on this construction for everyday use.