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5.1a:   More on the Future Indicative: labial stems

In Lesson 3 you learned how to add  -σ  to verbal stems ending in a vowel (with no phonetic changes) and to verbal stems ending in a dental consonant . It turned out that dentals drop before  -σ, so all we need to do when we transform a dental stem from present to future is omit the final consonant!

It remains to observe how stems ending in the other two types of "stops" (labial and palatal)  react to  σ when they encounter it, be it in the Future or in any other form. This is a constant phonetic transformation.  The charts  below should not be memorized.  It is far more useful to pronounce the sounds and develop an instinct for these changes.  The principle that produces these changes is very common in languages generally: assimilation.  If a labial consonant, for example   π , is followed by a rough breathing (this would not happen in the Future tense that we are studying), it will change into φ , becoming aspirate in order to ease the transition to the following sound.

a) Labial consonants are:  π (unvoiced), β (voiced), and φ (aspirate). If followed by -σ there are two steps in their transformation.  First all become unvoiced, then they combine just as in English p combines with s: cf. upside.  But in Greek there is a special letter for this sound, the letter  ψ.   The following three verbs,   πέμπω  (to send), ending in an unvoiced labial, λείβω (to pour), ending in a voiced labial, and γράφω (to draw, write) will have  ψ in the future.   

The Future Infinitives are, respectively,  πέμψειν  (to be about to send, to be going to send),   λείψειν((to be about to pour, to be going to pour), and γράψειν (to be about to draw or write, to be going to draw or write).