Subjunctive (Ancient Greek)

The subjunctive mood (Greek ὑποτακτική "for arranging underneath", from ὑποτάσσω  "I arrange beneath") along with the indicative, optative, and imperative, is one of the four moods of the Ancient Greek verb. It can be used both in the meaning "should" (the jussive subjunctive) and in the meaning "may" (the potential subjunctive).

When used in its jussive sense ("should"), the subjunctive can be used in sentences such as the following:
 * 1st person suggestions ("let me say", "let's go")
 * Deliberative questions ("what should I do?")
 * Negative commands ("don't be surprised!")

In its potential sense ("may"), the subjunctive is often used in indefinite conditional or similar clauses referring to the future or indefinite present time. These can be:
 * Clauses referring to a single event at an indefinite future time ("if by chance...", "until such time as..." or "before such time as...")
 * Clauses referring to repeated events in an indefinite present time ("whenever...", "whoever...", "if ever..." etc.)

Such subordinate clauses are introduced by a conjunction or relative pronoun combined with the particle ἄν, e.g. ἐάν 'if', ὅταν  'whenever', ὅσαν  'whoever' etc. When the context is past, the optative is used in such clauses, without the particle ἄν.

The potential subjunctive, usually without ἄν, is also used in subordinate clauses such as the following:
 * Purpose clauses ("so that it can happen")
 * After verbs of fearing or doubt ("I fear it may happen", "I doubt if it can happen")

In a past time context a writer has a choice to use either the subjunctive or the optative mood in such sentences.

Without an introductory verb, but preceded by μή "not", the potential subjunctive can also be used for:
 * Doubtful or emphatic assertions about the future ("it may be that.." or "it is certain that...")

The two moods subjunctive and optative together cover most of the areas covered by the Latin subjunctive. However, one area for which the subjunctive is used in Latin but not in Greek is for counterfactual situations in the present or past (e.g. "it would be happening", "it would have happened"). For this area of meaning the imperfect and aorist indicative tenses are used in Ancient Greek.

The subjunctive is still used today in Modern Greek, whereas the optative has died out.

The subjunctive can usually be recognised easily from the fact that it almost always has the letters ω or η  in the ending, for example εἴπωμεν, γένηται. It exists in three tenses only: the present, the aorist, and the perfect. The perfect is, however, rarely used.

The difference between the present and aorist subjunctive is one of aspect rather than of time. In sentences looking forward to the future such as "I am afraid it may happen", the aorist describes single events, whereas the present subjunctive primarily refers to on-going situations or habitually repeated events. In sentences describing repeated events at an indefinite time such as "whenever he has finished, he sits down", the aorist refers to events which, though repeated, precede the time of the main verb.

Except sometimes in Homer, the negative used with the subjunctive is always μή.

Jussive subjunctive
Just as in Latin, the Greek subjunctive can sometimes be used for giving suggestions or commands. This use is known as the "jussive" subjunctive.

1st person suggestions
The jussive subjunctive has several uses. One use is in 1st person plural exhortations (the "hortatory" subjunctive):
 * ἄγε νῡν, ἴωμεν.
 * Come now, let's go.
 * Come now, let's go.

More rarely, generally preceded by φέρε δή, it can be used in the 1st person singular:
 * φέρε δὴ δείξω ὑμῖν.
 * Come now, let me show you.
 * Come now, let me show you.

Since Ancient Greek has a 3rd person imperative, the imperative rather than the subjunctive is usually used for 3rd person commands or suggestions where Latin would use a 3rd person subjunctive (e.g. veniat "let him come").

Deliberative questions
Similarly the subjunctive is used in deliberative questions, usually in the 1st person:
 * εἴπωμεν ἢ σῑγῶμεν;
 * Should we speak (aorist) or should we remain silent (present)?
 * Should we speak (aorist) or should we remain silent (present)?

Negative commands
The subjunctive mood can also be used for 2nd person negative commands, but only with the aorist tense. The negative, as with almost all uses of the subjunctive, is μή :
 * μὴ θαυμάσῃς.
 * . (aorist subjunctive)
 * Don't be surprised.

However, when the meaning of the negative command is "don't continue to do something", μή is used not with the subjunctive but with the present imperative:
 * μὴ κλαίετε.
 * . (present imperative)
 * Don't weep (= don't continue to weep).

Subjunctive in indefinite clauses
The subjunctive mood is often used in indefinite subordinate clauses referring to an unknown time in the future (e.g. "if this should happen") or to an unspecified time in the present (e.g. "whenever this happens"). Such clauses are always introduced by a conjunction or relative pronoun combined with the particle ἄν, such as ἐάν "if by chance", ὅταν  "whenever", or ὃς ἄν  "whoever".

Clauses of this type can only refer to an indefinite present or future time, never to the past, for which the optative is used, without ἄν (see Optative (Ancient Greek)).

If (in future)
The subjunctive is often used in the protasis (i.e. the "if" clause) of conditional sentences after the conjunction ἐάν, which can be shortened to ἤν or ἄν "if (by chance)" or "if (in future)", referring to a future situation that is quite likely to happen. Conditional sentences of this kind are referred to by Smyth as the "more vivid" future conditions:
 * ἢν μὲν ἀνάγκη ᾖ, πολεμήσομεν.
 * If it's necessary, we shall make war.
 * If it's necessary, we shall make war.

The negative used with the potential subjunctive, as with the jussive subjunctive, is μή :
 * ἢν μὴ ’θέλωσι, ἀναγκάσουσιν.
 * If they are not willing, they will force them.
 * If they are not willing, they will force them.

Before, until
The same construction is used with πρὶν ἄν "before" and ἕως ἄν  "until such time as" referring to an event or situation which it is expected will occur at an indefinite future time:
 * οὐ παύσομαι πρὶν ἂν φράσῃς μοι.
 * I shan't stop until you tell me (whenever that is).
 * I shan't stop until you tell me (whenever that is).


 * λέγε, ἕως ἂν οἴκαδε ὥρᾱ ᾖ ἀπιέναι.
 * Carry on speaking, until it is time to go home (whenever that is).
 * Carry on speaking, until it is time to go home (whenever that is).

Whenever, whoever, etc.
Another very similar use of the subjunctive is in indefinite subordinate clauses following a conjunction such as ἐᾱ́ν "if ever", ὅταν  "whenever", ὃς ἄν  "whoever", etc., referring to repeated actions in indefinite present time.
 * δυνατὸς δέ γ’ ἐστὶν ἕκαστος ἄρα, ὃς ἂν ποιῇ ὃ ἂν βούληται, ὅταν βούληται.
 * So everyone is powerful who does whatever he wants whenever he wants.
 * So everyone is powerful who does whatever he wants whenever he wants.


 * ὅταν δέ τις πειρᾶται παριέναι, κυλίνδουσι λίθους.
 * Whenever anyone tries to pass, they roll stones.
 * Whenever anyone tries to pass, they roll stones.


 * τοῖς φυγάσιν ἔξεστιν οἰκεῖν ὅπου ἂν θέλωσιν.
 * It's possible for exiles to live wherever they wish.
 * It's possible for exiles to live wherever they wish.


 * ὅπου ἂν στρατοπεδεύωνται, τάφρον περιβάλλονται.
 * Wherever they make a camp, they throw a ditch around it.
 * Wherever they make a camp, they throw a ditch around it.

ὅπως ἄν means "in whatever way". But it can also mean "so that" and be used in purpose clauses (see below).


 * οὕτω γὰρ ποιήσω ὅπως ἂν σὺ κελεύῃς.
 * I shall do as (= in whatever way) you order.
 * I shall do as (= in whatever way) you order.

The equivalent of this construction in past time uses the optative mood without ἄν (see Optative (Ancient Greek)). Unlike with purpose clauses and after verbs of fearing, the subjunctive is not used in a past-time context in such clauses.

Purpose clauses
The subjunctive is also used in purpose clauses with ἵνα, especially those referring to present or future time:
 * δίδαξον καὶ ἐμέ, ἵνα σοφώτερος γένωμαι.
 * Teach me too, so that I can become wiser.
 * Teach me too, so that I can become wiser.

ἵνα "so that" is never used with ἄν. On the other hand, when ὅπως is used, ἄν  is usually added, although ὅπως  can also be used alone:


 * ἀλλὰ πῦρ τις ἐξενεγκάτω ... ὅπως ἂν εὐξώμεσθα τοῖς θεοῖς.
 * But let someone bring out some fire, so that we can pray to the gods.
 * But let someone bring out some fire, so that we can pray to the gods.


 * ὅπως δὲ γνωσθῇ ὅτι ἀληθὲς τοῦτο λέγω, πρῶτον διηγήσομαι τὴν φύσιν τῆς Ἀττικῆς.
 * But so that it may be known that what I'm saying is true, first I shall describe the nature of Attica.
 * But so that it may be known that what I'm saying is true, first I shall describe the nature of Attica.

In a past context purpose clause, the optative mood without ἄν is often used (see Optative (Ancient Greek)), but it is also possible to use the subjunctive even in a past context:
 * Ἀβροκόμᾱς κατέκαυσεν [τὰ πλοῖα], ἵνα μὴ Κῦρος διαβῇ.
 * (aorist subjunctive)
 * Abrocomas had burnt the boats, so that Cyrus couldn't cross.

Purpose clauses can also be made with ὅπως and the imperfect, aorist, or future indicative.

After verbs of fearing
The subjunctive is used after verbs of fearing to express fears for the future, after a verb of fearing in the present tense. In this case the word μή "lest" is always added after the verb of fearing:
 * φοβεῖται μὴ πολιορκώμεθα.
 * He is afraid that we may be besieged.
 * He is afraid that we may be besieged.

In a past context the optative mood is generally used instead of the subjunctive (see Optative (Ancient Greek). However, as with purpose clauses, the subjunctive may optionally be used even when the context is past:
 * ἐφοβήθησαν μὴ πολέμιαι ὦσιν.
 * They were afraid at first that (the ships) might be (lit. may be) hostile.
 * They were afraid at first that (the ships) might be (lit. may be) hostile.

Doubts can be expressed in Ancient Greek by using εἰ  "if" or an indirect question and the subjunctive after a verb of fearing:
 * φόβος εἰ πείσω δέσποιναν ἐμήν.
 * I doubt if I can persuade my mistress.
 * I doubt if I can persuade my mistress.

When the sentence has the form "I fear that something is the case or was the case", referring to the present or past, the indicative, not the subjunctive, is used.

Doubtful and emphatic assertions
Similar to its use with verbs of fearing, the subjunctive with μή is sometimes used in doubtful assertions, meaning "it may be the case that" or (with μὴ οὐ(κ) ) "it may not be the case that", especially in Plato:
 * μὴ οὐχ οὕτως ἔχῃ.
 * Possibly it may not be so.
 * Possibly it may not be so.

A similar construction, but with οὐ μή rather than μὴ οὐ, can also be used for an emphatic assertion, as in this sentence from the New Testament, always negative and usually with the aorist subjunctive:
 * μήποτε οὐ μὴ ἀρκέσῃ ἡμῖν καὶ ὑμῖν.
 * Certainly there won't be enough (oil) both for us and for you!
 * Certainly there won't be enough (oil) both for us and for you!

Tense and the subjunctive
The subjunctive, like the imperative, is found in only three tenses: the present, aorist, and perfect. The difference between these tenses is generally not one of time, but of aspect. Thus when a subjunctive verb is used prospectively to refer to a future event or situation (e.g. "I am afraid it may happen"), the aorist is used to refer to an event, the present to a situation (or habitual series of events):


 * εἴπωμεν ἢ σῑγῶμεν;
 * Should we speak (event – aorist subjunctive) or should we remain silent (situation – present subjunctive)?
 * Should we speak (event – aorist subjunctive) or should we remain silent (situation – present subjunctive)?

When the subjunctive is used with ἄν in indefinite clauses (e.g. "whenever he has spoken, he sits down"), the aorist refers to an event which takes place earlier than the main verb:


 * ἐπειδὰν δὲ οὗτοι πάντες εἴπωσι, τότ’ ἤδη κελεύει λέγειν τῶν ἄλλων Ἀθηναίων τὸν βουλόμενον, οἷς ἔξεστιν.
 * And when all of these men have spoken, then (the herald) orders any of the other Athenians who wishes to speak, to say his piece.
 * And when all of these men have spoken, then (the herald) orders any of the other Athenians who wishes to speak, to say his piece.

But when the subjunctive verb in an indefinite clause refers to a situation which is simultaneous with the time of the main verb, the present subjunctive is used:
 * ἐπειδὰν ἡγῆται βασιλεύς, οὐδεὶς αὐτοῦ πρόσθεν πορεύεται.
 * Whenever a king is leading, no one walks in front of him.
 * Whenever a king is leading, no one walks in front of him.


 * μαινόμεθα πάντες ὁπόταν ὀργιζώμεθα.
 * We are all mad whenever we are angry.
 * We are all mad whenever we are angry.

The perfect subjunctive also refers to a situation existing at the time of the main verb, but as a result of something which happened earlier, as in the example below:
 * ἐάν τε ἑαλωκὼς ᾖ ἐάν τε μή, δηλούτω.
 * Whether (the hare) has been caught or not, (the huntsman) should make it clear (to his colleagues).
 * Whether (the hare) has been caught or not, (the huntsman) should make it clear (to his colleagues).

Morphology
Subjunctive endings almost always contain the letters η or ω, except in the 2nd and 3rd person singular of -όω verbs, which have -οῖς, -οῖ, and in the 2nd and 3rd singular and 2nd plural of -άω verbs, which have -ᾷς, -ᾷ, -ᾶτε like the indicative.

The order of the endings in the tables below is: "I", "you sg.", "he/she/it", "we", "you pl.", "they".

A 2nd and 3rd person dual number (e.g. ἦτον "you both may be", ἦτον "they both may be") also exists but in most verbs it is rare. It is omitted from these tables.


 * βαίνω "I go" is almost always used with a prefix (e.g. δια-, κατα-, συμ- etc.) except in poetry.
 * The perfect subjunctive is very rare. It is usually made from the perfect participle plus the subjunctive of εἰμί, although occasionally the endings are added directly to the stem.
 * Instead of δῷ and γνῷ Homer has δώῃ and γνώῃ. The New Testament has contracted forms δοῖ and γνοῖ, which despite having the appearance of optatives are generally analysed as aorist subjunctive.


 * βλαβῶ "I may be harmed" and φανῶ "I may appear" have endings similar to λυθῶ.
 * The aorist endings -θῶ, -θῇς etc. are sometimes middle in meaning.