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8.6: Alternative (late) forms of 3rd person active imperative   

 

Mostly in the 4th century BCE and later, and rather consistently in Biblical Greek, the 3rd person plural of the Imperative shows the following endings:

 

 ACTIVE VOICE:   In addition to ἀγ -όντων (let them lead),  the form  ἀγ -έτωσαν was used.

 

MIDDLE/PASSIVE VOICE:  In addition to ἀγ-έσθων  (let them steal, if middle, or let them be led, if passive),  

                                                   the form  ἀγ-έσθωσαν was used.

 

This chart compares active and middle/passive imperative endings

 

IMPERATIVE

ACTIVE VOICE

MIDDLE  /  PASSIVE

Tips

  3rd singular

λεγ-έτω

λεγ-έσθω

 

To go from active to middle / passive,

change   τ     to     σθ

  3rd plural

λεγ-τωσαν

λεγ-σθωσαν

 

This chart compares other active and middle/passive endings

 

 

ACTIVE VOICE

MIDDLE  /  PASSIVE

Tips

 INDICATIVE    or    IMPERATIVE

2nd  plural present

λέγ-ετε

λέγ-εσθε

 

To go from active to middle / passive,

change   τ     to     σθ

INDICATIVE

2nd  plural Imperfect

ἐλέγ- ετε

ἐλέγ- εσθε