A Greek grammar for schools and colleges, revised and in part rewritten by F. de F. Allen

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ...u4) vi rot ob xpalafin ffKnirrphv Ko! oTcp-yua fleotb (there is danger) indeed that the staff and wreath of the god may not avail thee (A 28), /iJ) ob ee/urbv $ I fear it is not right (PPhaed.67b). 868. In Hm., the subjunctive is sometimes used to denote future events, nearly like the future indicative: ob yip iru rolovs Isop dvepas, obSh tfSop.ai for never yet saw I such men, nor shall I see (A 262). To the subjunctive in this use, fiv or K4 is sometimes added: Ovk &i Toi xPf-V apis nought will the lyre avail t/iee (r 54). Cf. 845. Optative. 869. The optative has two uses in simple sentences; one without av, in wishes; and one with av, in assertions and questions. 870. Optative Of Wishing.--The optative is used without av, to express a wish that something may happen: airoXovro may he perish. So robrovs ol fleol kirorio-aivro may the gods requite them (XA.8.26), 5 »a7, yivoio irarphs ebrvxeorrepos mayst tlwu, my son, be happier than thy sire (SAj.550), p4 fun yevoiB' & f3obo/i', iw' a o-vpjpepet may not what I would fain, but what is best, be mine (MMon.366). From this use comes the name optative. a. This optative may be introduced by the particles of wishing, tWe or (I yap: thus eWe o-v (pCKos fjfuv yivoio 0 that thou wouldst be our friend (XH.4.138). The sentence is then strictly a condition with omitted conclusion, as in English 'O if this would happen.' b. In poetry, simple el occurs; for instance Eur. Hec. 836. Hm. sometimes has t£8e and a? yip. a. Wishes are also introduced by &s: Hm. as epts f/c re 6eav %k T' avBpirmev i.it6ono would that discord from among both gods and men might perish (2 107). d. A wish expressed by the optative refers to the future. Very rarely, however, an aorist optative is used of the future...