BBG Chapter 19 — Future Active and Middle Indicative
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Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar, Mounce, 4th Edition
Data: MACULA Greek TAGNT (~18,000 future indicative tokens NT-wide)
1. The Future Tense — Overview
The future indicative expresses simple future action — an action that will occur at a point after the time of speaking. Aspectually, the future is perfective (it views the action as a whole unit), though some grammarians treat it as aspect-neutral since the future cannot yet be observed.
| Feature |
Value |
| Tense |
Future |
| Voice |
Active or Middle |
| Mood |
Indicative |
| Aspect |
Perfective (undefined) |
| Time |
Future (relative to speaker) |
| Augment? |
No |
| Reduplication? |
No |
The future tense stem is built by adding σ directly to the present (or verbal) stem. This σ is the tense formant — the single most diagnostic feature of the future.
Future Active = Verbal stem + σ + connecting vowel (ο/ε) + primary active endings
Future Middle = Verbal stem + σ + connecting vowel (ο/ε) + primary middle/passive endings
| Step |
Form |
Notes |
| Present stem |
λυ- |
From λύω "I loose" |
| + σ formant |
λυσ- |
Tense formant added |
| + connecting vowel + ending |
λύσω |
ο before μ/ν; ε before others |
2.2 Stop Consonant Changes Before σ
When the verbal stem ends in a stop consonant, the stop combines with σ to produce a double consonant:
| Consonant Class |
Stops |
+ σ → |
Example |
| Labials |
π, β, φ |
→ ψ |
γράφω → γράψω |
| Velars |
κ, γ, χ |
→ ξ |
ἄγω → ἄξω |
| Dentals |
τ, δ, θ |
→ σ (dental drops) |
πείθω → πείσω |
Note: These same stop + σ combinations appear in the future, aorist, and perfect active. Memorizing this table now will pay dividends across six chapters of verb study.
3. Primary Active Endings
The future active uses the primary active endings — the same endings as the present active indicative. The σ formant distinguishes future from present.
| Person/Number |
Ending |
Connecting Vowel + Ending |
| 1sg |
-ω |
ο + — → -ω |
| 2sg |
-εις |
ε + ις → -εις |
| 3sg |
-ει |
ε + ι → -ει |
| 1pl |
-ομεν |
ο + μεν → -ομεν |
| 2pl |
-ετε |
ε + τε → -ετε |
| 3pl |
-ουσι(ν) |
ο + νσι → -ουσι(ν) |
4. Primary Middle/Passive Endings
The future middle uses the primary middle/passive endings:
| Person/Number |
Ending |
Connecting Vowel + Ending |
| 1sg |
-ομαι |
ο + μαι → -ομαι |
| 2sg |
-ῃ |
ε + σαι → -ῃ (σ drops, ε + αι contract) |
| 3sg |
-εται |
ε + ται → -εται |
| 1pl |
-ομεθα |
ο + μεθα → -ομεθα |
| 2pl |
-εσθε |
ε + σθε → -εσθε |
| 3pl |
-ονται |
ο + νται → -ονται |
Note: The future passive is not introduced until Ch24. When you see a future middle form, it is middle voice (the subject acts for its own benefit or upon itself), not passive.
5. Full Paradigm — Future Active Indicative (λύω)
| Person/Number |
Future Active |
Translation |
| 1sg |
λύσω |
I will loose |
| 2sg |
λύσεις |
You will loose |
| 3sg |
λύσει |
He/she/it will loose |
| 1pl |
λύσομεν |
We will loose |
| 2pl |
λύσετε |
You (pl) will loose |
| 3pl |
λύσουσι(ν) |
They will loose |
6. Full Paradigm — Future Middle Indicative (λύω)
| Person/Number |
Future Middle |
Translation |
| 1sg |
λύσομαι |
I will loose (for myself) |
| 2sg |
λύσῃ |
You will loose (for yourself) |
| 3sg |
λύσεται |
He/she will loose (for himself/herself) |
| 1pl |
λυσόμεθα |
We will loose (for ourselves) |
| 2pl |
λύσεσθε |
You (pl) will loose (for yourselves) |
| 3pl |
λύσονται |
They will loose (for themselves) |
7. Liquid Futures
Verbs whose stems end in λ, μ, ν, ρ (liquid consonants) cannot take the σ tense formant directly — σ is unstable between a vowel and a liquid, and drops. Instead, liquid futures:
- Drop the σ
- Add ε between the stem and the endings
- This ε contracts with the connecting vowel, producing contract-like circumflex forms
| Present |
Stem |
Future |
Notes |
| μένω |
μεν- |
μενῶ |
Circumflex accent = contraction |
| αἴρω |
ἀρ- |
ἀρῶ |
Stem vowel-grades; ε contracts |
| ἀποκτείνω |
ἀποκτεν- |
ἀποκτενῶ |
ν-stem liquid |
| ἀποστέλλω |
ἀποστελ- |
ἀποστελῶ |
λλ → λ before ending |
| ἐγείρω |
ἐγερ- |
ἐγερῶ |
ρ-stem liquid |
| κρίνω |
κριν- |
κρινῶ |
ν-stem liquid |
Note: The circumflex accent over the connecting vowel in liquid futures is a key diagnostic. If you see a future-looking form with a circumflex and no σ, suspect a liquid future.
Liquid Future Paradigm (μένω — "I remain")
| Person/Number |
Future Active |
| 1sg |
μενῶ |
| 2sg |
μενεῖς |
| 3sg |
μενεῖ |
| 1pl |
μενοῦμεν |
| 2pl |
μενεῖτε |
| 3pl |
μενοῦσι(ν) |
8. Contract Verb Futures
Contract verbs (stems ending in α, ε, ο) lengthen their final stem vowel before adding the σ tense formant:
| Contract Class |
Present |
Stem Vowel |
Future |
| α-contracts |
ἀγαπάω |
α → η |
ἀγαπήσω |
| ε-contracts |
ποιέω |
ε → η |
ποιήσω |
| ο-contracts |
πληρόω |
ο → ω |
πληρώσω |
Note: After lengthening, contract verb futures are entirely regular — they follow the same λύσω paradigm. Vowel lengthening is the only adjustment.
9. Deponent Futures
Some verbs are deponent in the future (middle form, active meaning). Common examples:
| Verb |
Future (Deponent) |
Meaning |
| ἀκούω |
ἀκούσομαι |
I will hear |
| ἔρχομαι |
ἐλεύσομαι |
I will come/go |
| λαμβάνω |
λήμψομαι |
I will take/receive |
| ὁράω |
ὄψομαι |
I will see |
| πίνω |
πίομαι |
I will drink |
The σ formant is the key distinguishing feature:
| Form |
Tense |
Key Feature |
| λύω |
Present |
No σ before endings |
| λύσω |
Future |
σ before connecting vowel |
| γράφω |
Present |
No consonant cluster |
| γράψω |
Future |
ψ = φ + σ |
| ἄγω |
Present |
No consonant cluster |
| ἄξω |
Future |
ξ = γ + σ |
11. GNT Frequency and Theological Examples
The future indicative carries enormous theological weight in the GNT. Key examples:
| Reference |
Greek |
Translation |
| Matt 1:21 |
σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ |
"He will save his people" |
| John 14:26 |
διδάξει ὑμᾶς πάντα |
"He will teach you all things" |
| John 16:13 |
ὁδηγήσει ὑμᾶς |
"He will guide you" |
| Rom 8:11 |
ζῳοποιήσει |
"He will give life to" |
| Rev 21:4 |
ἐξαλείψει πᾶν δάκρυον |
"He will wipe away every tear" |