BBG Chapter 23 — First Aorist Active and Middle Indicative

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Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar, Mounce, 4th Edition
Data: MACULA Greek TAGNT (~15,000 aorist active/middle indicative tokens NT-wide)

1. The First Aorist — Overview

The first aorist (also called the "weak aorist" in older grammars) is the regular formation for expressing perfective past action. It is characterized by the σα tense formant — the α in σα is the most recognizable marker of the first aorist.

2. Building the First Aorist

Augment + Aorist stem + σα + (secondary) endings

For regular verbs (Pattern 1), the aorist stem = present stem.

3. First Aorist Active Endings

The σα formant replaces the connecting vowel. The endings attach to σα-:

Note on 3sg: The α in σα shortens to ε before the 3sg ending: σαε → σε. This is the only place where the α disappears.

4. Full Paradigm — First Aorist Active Indicative (λύω)

5. First Aorist Middle Endings

The middle voice adds middle endings after σα-:

6. Full Paradigm — First Aorist Middle Indicative (λύω)

7. Stop Consonant + σ in the First Aorist

The same stop + σ combinations from Ch19 (future) appear in the first aorist:

8. Liquid Aorists

Verbs with liquid stems (λ, μ, ν, ρ) cannot attach σ directly. Instead:

1. σ drops
2. The preceding vowel lengthens
3. The aorist endings attach without σα

Note: Liquid aorists still have the 1sg ending pattern (-α, -ας, -ε, etc.) but without the σ. The vowel lengthening in the stem is the compensatory change for the lost σ.

9. Contract Verb First Aorists

Contract verb stems lengthen their final vowel before σ:

10. Comparing First and Second Aorist

Key Diagnostic: Look for σ immediately after the stem (before the ending vowel). If present → first aorist. If absent and the stem is different from the present → second aorist.

11. Aspect and Translation

Both first and second aorists share identical aspect — perfective:

12. GNT Examples