Lesson 11 Contract Verbs

I. Introduction

• Contract verbs = verbs whose final stem vowel is α, ε or ο
• Contraction occurs between the final stem vowel and ο/ε
• Contraction occurs in the present and imperfect only

II. Contraction rules

• Five major rules, 3 minor
• An alternative set of rules for your reference

III. Paradigms: ἀγαπάω, ποιέω, πληρόω

• Note: lexical form (uncontracted form) ≠ 1s act form (contracted form)
• Note: ἀγαπᾷ, πληροῖ can be either 3s act or 2s m/p
• Most frequent α-, ε-, ο- contract verbs (50+ in GNT):
  α-contract: ἀγαπάω, γεννάω, ἐρωτάω, ἐπερωτάω
  ε-contract: ποιέω, ζητέω, λαλέω, τηρέω ....
  ο-contract: πληρόω

Examples
Mark 2:7 τί οὗτος οὕτως λαλεῖ;

John 21:15 ἀγαπᾷς με πλέον τούτων;

Rom 7:19 οὐ γὰρ ὃ θέλω (I want) ποιῶ ἀλλὰ ὃ οὐ θέλω κακὸν τοῦτο πράσσω (I practice).

 

Memorization
Matt 6:33a ζητεῖτε δὲ πρῶτον τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ.
 

Composition
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so.
 
 

Assignments
Vocabulary. The major contraction rules. Paradigms. Exercise. Memorize Matt 6:33a.