Greek Verb Conjugation Patterns: How to Conjugate Regular Verbs in Greek

Understanding Greek Verb Conjugation Basics

Greek verbs change their form to express person, number, tense, mood, and voice. For English speakers learning Greek, recognizing regular verb conjugation patterns is essential to build a strong foundation in the language.

What Are Regular Verbs in Greek?

Regular verbs in Greek follow predictable patterns when conjugated. Unlike irregular verbs, their stems and endings change consistently according to the rules of each tense and mood.

The Three Verb Conjugation Classes in Greek

Modern Greek verbs are divided into three main conjugation classes based on their infinitive endings: -ω, -άω, and -ώ. Each class has its own set of endings but shares many similarities.

For example, the verb γράφω (to write) belongs to the first class (-ω), while αγαπάω (to love) belongs to the second (-άω). The third class (-ώ) is less common but follows similar patterns.

Present Tense Conjugation of Regular Verbs

The present tense is used to describe current actions or habitual events. Let's look at how to conjugate a regular verb in the present tense.

Take the verb γράφω (to write) as an example:

• Εγώ γράφω (I write)
• Εσύ γράφεις (You write)
• Αυτός/Αυτή/Αυτό γράφει (He/She/It writes)
• Εμείς γράφουμε (We write)
• Εσείς γράφετε (You all write)
• Αυτοί/Αυτές/Αυτά γράφουν(ε) (They write)

Present Tense Endings for -ω Verbs

The endings for regular -ω verbs in the present tense are:

• -ω (I)
• -εις (you singular)
• -ει (he/she/it)
• -ουμε (we)
• -ετε (you plural)
• -ουν(ε) (they)

Past Tense: The Aorist for Regular Verbs

The aorist tense expresses a simple past action. Regular verbs form the aorist by adding specific endings to the verb stem.

For γράφω, the aorist stem is γράψ- and the endings are:

• -α (I)
• -ες (you singular)
• -ε (he/she/it)
• -αμε (we)
• -ατε (you plural)
• -αν(ε) (they)

Example conjugation in the aorist:

• Εγώ έγραψα (I wrote)
• Εσύ έγραψες (You wrote)
• Αυτός έγραψε (He wrote)
• Εμείς γράψαμε (We wrote)
• Εσείς γράψατε (You all wrote)
• Αυτοί έγραψαν (They wrote)

Future Tense Conjugation of Regular Verbs

The future tense in Greek is formed by adding the particle θα before the verb in the present tense form.

Example with γράφω:

• Εγώ θα γράφω (I will write)
• Εσύ θα γράφεις (You will write)
• Αυτός θα γράφει (He will write)
• Εμείς θα γράφουμε (We will write)
• Εσείς θα γράφετε (You all will write)
• Αυτοί θα γράφουν (They will write)

Tips for Mastering Regular Greek Verb Conjugations

• Memorize the verb endings for each tense and person.
• Practice conjugating common regular verbs daily.
• Listen to native speakers to get familiar with pronunciation.
• Use flashcards to reinforce verb forms.
• Try writing simple sentences using different verb tenses.