# Prohibition Pattern Drill

*BBG Chapter 33 · μή + Present Imperative vs. μή + Aorist Subjunctive*

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## Instructions

For each item below:
1. Classify the prohibition pattern as **STOP** (μή + present imperative = stop an ongoing action) or **DONT** (μή + aorist subjunctive = do not begin an action).
2. Give the **tense** and **mood** of the verbal form.
3. Give the **lexical form** (1st sg present active indicative).
4. Provide an English **translation**.

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## Exercise Table

| # | Greek Sentence | Pattern (STOP/DONT) | Tense | Mood | Lexical Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | μὴ κλαίετε | | | | | |
| 2 | μὴ φοβηθῇς | | | | | |
| 3 | μὴ νομίζετε ὅτι ἦλθον | | | | | |
| 4 | μὴ εἰσέλθῃς εἰς πειρασμόν | | | | | |
| 5 | μὴ μεριμνᾶτε | | | | | |
| 6 | μὴ λαλήσῃς κακόν | | | | | |
| 7 | μὴ θαυμάζετε | | | | | |
| 8 | μὴ πορευθῇς | | | | | |
| 9 | μὴ λέγε τοῦτο | | | | | |
| 10 | μὴ ἅψῃ | | | | | |
| 11 | μὴ φοβεῖσθε | | | | | |
| 12 | μὴ ἀποκτείνῃς | | | | | |
| 13 | μὴ κρίνετε | | | | | |
| 14 | μὴ ἁμάρτῃς | | | | | |
| 15 | μὴ κατεσθίετε τοὺς πτωχούς | | | | | |
| 16 | μὴ ἄρῃς τὸ σκεῦος | | | | | |
| 17 | μὴ ἐπιθυμεῖτε | | | | | |
| 18 | μὴ πιστεύσῃς | | | | | |
| 19 | μὴ δίδοτε τὸ ἅγιον τοῖς κυσίν | | | | | |
| 20 | μὴ ποιήσῃς τοῦτο | | | | | |

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## Discussion Questions

1. The rule "μή + present imperative = stop; μή + aorist subjunctive = don't begin" is a useful teaching heuristic. Give two items from the exercise where the "stop" nuance is clearly supported by the context and two where it seems more like a general prohibition. What does this tell you about how absolute the rule is?

2. Item 19 uses δίδοτε — a present imperative of δίδωμι (a μι-verb). How does the form differ from a standard ω-verb present imperative? What is the 2nd plural present imperative ending for μι-verbs?

3. Items 2 and 11 both use φοβέομαι — one is STOP (μή + present imperative) and one is DONT (μή + aorist subjunctive). Write both out with glosses and explain the pragmatic difference in context: when would a speaker choose each form?

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## Answer Key

| # | Greek Sentence | Pattern | Tense | Mood | Lexical Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | μὴ κλαίετε | STOP | Present | Imperative | κλαίω | Stop weeping |
| 2 | μὴ φοβηθῇς | DONT | Aorist | Subjunctive | φοβέομαι | Do not be afraid (don't start) |
| 3 | μὴ νομίζετε ὅτι ἦλθον | STOP | Present | Imperative | νομίζω | Do not think (stop thinking) that I came |
| 4 | μὴ εἰσέλθῃς εἰς πειρασμόν | DONT | Aorist | Subjunctive | εἰσέρχομαι | Do not enter into temptation |
| 5 | μὴ μεριμνᾶτε | STOP | Present | Imperative | μεριμνάω | Stop worrying |
| 6 | μὴ λαλήσῃς κακόν | DONT | Aorist | Subjunctive | λαλέω | Do not speak evil |
| 7 | μὴ θαυμάζετε | STOP | Present | Imperative | θαυμάζω | Stop marveling |
| 8 | μὴ πορευθῇς | DONT | Aorist | Subjunctive | πορεύομαι | Do not go |
| 9 | μὴ λέγε τοῦτο | STOP | Present | Imperative | λέγω | Stop saying this |
| 10 | μὴ ἅψῃ | DONT | Aorist | Subjunctive | ἅπτω | Do not touch |
| 11 | μὴ φοβεῖσθε | STOP | Present | Imperative | φοβέομαι | Stop being afraid |
| 12 | μὴ ἀποκτείνῃς | DONT | Aorist | Subjunctive | ἀποκτείνω | Do not kill |
| 13 | μὴ κρίνετε | STOP | Present | Imperative | κρίνω | Do not judge (stop judging) |
| 14 | μὴ ἁμάρτῃς | DONT | Aorist | Subjunctive | ἁμαρτάνω | Do not sin |
| 15 | μὴ κατεσθίετε τοὺς πτωχούς | STOP | Present | Imperative | κατεσθίω | Stop devouring the poor |
| 16 | μὴ ἄρῃς τὸ σκεῦος | DONT | Aorist | Subjunctive | αἴρω | Do not take the vessel |
| 17 | μὴ ἐπιθυμεῖτε | STOP | Present | Imperative | ἐπιθυμέω | Stop desiring (do not covet) |
| 18 | μὴ πιστεύσῃς | DONT | Aorist | Subjunctive | πιστεύω | Do not believe |
| 19 | μὴ δίδοτε τὸ ἅγιον τοῖς κυσίν | STOP | Present | Imperative | δίδωμι | Do not give what is holy to dogs |
| 20 | μὴ ποιήσῃς τοῦτο | DONT | Aorist | Subjunctive | ποιέω | Do not do this |

### Pattern Summary

| Pattern | Mood + Tense | Count | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| STOP | μή + present imperative | 10 | #1, #3, #5, #7, #9, #11, #13, #15, #17, #19 |
| DONT | μή + aorist subjunctive | 10 | #2, #4, #6, #8, #10, #12, #14, #16, #18, #20 |
