Lesson 13 Verbal Roots

I. Root vs Stem

1. Root = the most basic form of a verb
   Stem = the basic form of a verb in a particular tense
2. Different tense stems are formed from the verbal root (not from the present stem).
3. The present stem is the most "irregular" tense stem.

II. Major patterns of tense stems

Pattern 1. Verbal root = Present tense stem (~80% of verbs)

1. Roots ending in ι/υ (e.g., λύω, future λύσω)
2. Roots ending in a stop (e.g., βλέπω, future βλέψω)
3. Contract verbs (e.g., ποιέω, future ποιήσω)
4. Liquid verbs (e.g., μένω, future μενῶ)

Pattern 2. Roots ending in a stop

1. ιζω/αζω verbs: roots ending in dental
   e.g., βαπτίζω, future βαπτίσω (root βαπτιδ-)
2. ασσω verbs: roots ending in velar
   e.g., κηρύσσω, future κηρύξω (root κηρυγ-)

Pattern 3. Double consonants: roots in single consonant

e.g., βάλλω, future βαλῶ (root βαλ-)

Pattern 4. Letter(s) added to form the present tense

1. iota (usually "metathesis" also occurs)
   e.g., αρ- + ι = αρι = αιρ = αἴρω, future ἀρῶ
2. (ι)σκ
   e.g., ευρ- + ισκ = εὑρισκω, future εὑρήσω
3. nu
   e.g., πίνω, future πίομαι (root πι-)
4. tau (roots ending in labial)
   e.g., κλέπτω, future κλέψω (root κλεπ-)

Pattern 5. Different roots altogether (only a few)

Present	Future
ἔρχομαι (ερχ-)	ἐλεύσομαι (ελευθ-)
λέγω (λεγ-)	ἐρῶ (ϝερ-)
ὁράω (ορα-)	ὄψομαι (οπ-)
ἐσθίω (εσθι-)	φάγομαι (φαγ-)
φέρω (φερ-)	οἴσω (οι-)

Examples
Matt 13:41 ἀποστελεῖ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ.

Mark 16:17 ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου δαιμόνια ἐκβαλοῦσιν, γλώσσαις λαλήσουσιν καιναῖς (new).

Acts 1:11 οὗτος ὁ Ἰησοῦς ... οὕτως ἐλεύσεται.

Matt 5:8 μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ (pure) τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται.

Rom 8:31 Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν πρὸς ταῦτα; εἰ ὁ θεὸς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, τίς καθ' ἡμῶν;

Memorization
Matt 5:8 μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται.

Assignments
Vocabulary. Exercise.

Learn the patterns. In vocabulary, memorize the root along with the lexical form!!

The materials in this lesson closely follow a revised Chapter 20 of Basics of Biblical Greek (2nd edition). If you are insterested, you may download it (in PDF format) at Dr. Bill Mounce's website.