luxa masogu beyecav
Perfect Tense (Active)
In Modern Greek, the Perfect Tense (Active), or Παρακείμενος, is used to express actions that were completed in the past but have a present result or relevance. It is similar to the present perfect in English (e.g., "I have done").
Formation of the Perfect Tense (Active)
To form the perfect tense in Greek, use the auxiliary verb έχω (I have) followed by the perfect participle of the main verb.
The formula is:
- έχω + perfect participle
The perfect participle for regular verbs is typically the aorist stem of the verb with specific endings, but it stays the same for all persons.
Example with the verb γράφω (to write):
| Person | Conjugation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | έχω γράψει | I have written |
| 2nd singular | έχεις γράψει | You have written |
| 3rd singular | έχει γράψει | He/she/it has written |
| 1st plural | έχουμε γράψει | We have written |
| 2nd plural | έχετε γράψει | You (plural) have written |
| 3rd plural | έχουν γράψει | They have written |
Usage of the Perfect Tense
To indicate a completed action with present relevance:
- Έχω διαβάσει το βιβλίο. ("I have read the book.") — The book is already read, and that action has relevance to the current situation.
To describe actions where the result or outcome still affects the present:
- Έχεις τελειώσει τη δουλειά; ("Have you finished the work?") — The focus is on whether the work is completed and how that impacts the current moment.
Irregular Verbs in the Perfect Tense
Some Greek verbs have irregular forms in the perfect tense, particularly in their participle form. For example:
- βλέπω (to see) → έχω δει (I have seen)
- λέω (to say) → έχω πει (I have said)
Negative Form of the Perfect Tense
To form the negative in the perfect tense, simply place δεν (not) before the auxiliary verb έχω:
- Δεν έχω γράψει (I have not written)
- Δεν έχουμε τελειώσει (We have not finished)
Comparison with the Aorist Tense
It's important to distinguish the perfect tense from the aorist tense, which is used to describe actions completed in the past without any reference to their relevance in the present.
- Aorist: Έγραψα (I wrote) — The action is simply completed in the past.
- Perfect: Έχω γράψει (I have written) — The action is completed, but it has an impact on the present.
blog.ad_header
