Contract verbs with η

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mikfig
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Joined: June 1st, 2025, 6:27 pm

Contract verbs with η

Post by mikfig »

I’m currently reading Merkle and Plummer’s Beginning Greek book and on the chapter about Contract Verbs. I’ve read the chapter and watched the videos, but I’m confused on a point. Mounce’s 7 rules for contract verbs that he references cover most cases, but don’t seem to cover the case when the verb’s personal ending begins with η (for example, the 2nd person singular passive/middle ending). The book gives 3 examples in section 7.4: ποιέω in 2nd person singular passive/middle ending is ποιῇ, άγαπαω is ἀγαπᾷ, πληρόω is πληροῖ. How do ε+ῇ, α+ῇ, and ο+ῇ contract?

Thank you,
Mikfig
Jonathan Robie
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Re: Contract verbs with η

Post by Jonathan Robie »

mikfig wrote: June 1st, 2025, 6:28 pm I’m currently reading Merkle and Plummer’s Beginning Greek book and on the chapter about Contract Verbs. I’ve read the chapter and watched the videos, but I’m confused on a point. Mounce’s 7 rules for contract verbs that he references cover most cases, but don’t seem to cover the case when the verb’s personal ending begins with η (for example, the 2nd person singular passive/middle ending). The book gives 3 examples in section 7.4: ποιέω in 2nd person singular passive/middle ending is ποιῇ, άγαπαω is ἀγαπᾷ, πληρόω is πληροῖ. How do ε+ῇ, α+ῇ, and ο+ῇ contract?
Welcome to B-Greek!

Good question. First off, here's what these verbs have in common: If the verb ends in -έω, -άω, or -όω, then it's a contract verb, and the last vowel of the stem will combine (or "contract") with the ending.

The 2nd person singular middle/passive ending is (eta with iota subscript). When this ending attaches to a contract verb, the stem vowel contracts with the η.

This isn't a linking vowel — it's actually the final vowel of the verb stem. As Mounce says, “A contract verb is a verb whose present stem ends in one of the vowels alpha, epsilon, or omicron.” (p. 167).

Here's how this works for the verbs you give:
  • ποιέω → stem: ποιέ– → ε + η = η → with iota subscript = ποιῇ
  • ἀγαπάω → stem: ἀγαπά– → α + η = ᾱ → with iota subscript = ἀγαπᾷ
  • πληρόω → stem: πληρό– → ο + η = οι → with iota subscript = πληροῖ
So when you see a form ending in ῇ, ᾷ, or οῖ, and it’s a 2nd person middle/passive verb, that’s your clue: a contract vowel has merged with the ending.

Does that help? Is it clear now?
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charlieoliver01
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Re: Contract verbs with η

Post by charlieoliver01 »

I thought that contracting only happened between the final vowel of a word stem and the initial vowel of a word ending. But when I encountered an ending that started with η, like in “ποιῇ”, I was completely confused. After looking it up, I understood:
  • ε + η = ῃ
  • α + η = ᾷ
  • ο + η = οῖ
The problem is that I haven’t seen this rule emphasized in the book. I hope the book will add a clearer summary table so beginners can remember it more easily!
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