Lesson 3 | Present Participles
[2] Present Active Participles
Let’s learn the three key features for present active participles. Then, we’ll study the chart to help you see how they work.
You will see this “3 Key Features” table build as we continue to learn the participles. This first time, let’s make sure everything is clear.
- The Stem: Remove the final ω or ομαι from the lexical form to get the present stem.
- The Tense Former: Masculine and neuter take the οντ tense former. Feminine takes the ουσ tense former.
- The Ending Pattern: Masculine and neuter follow the third noun pattern. Feminine follows the first noun pattern.
You should notice two particular pieces of this paradigm. First, the masculine and neuter forms follow the third noun pattern,¹ and the feminine forms follow the first noun pattern. Thus, if you memorized the noun patterns, you do not need to memorize every form on this paradigm. However, you do need to remember which noun pattern each gender follows.
Second, notice the tense formers. The οντ (for masculine and neuter participles) and the ουσ (for feminine) tell us that these are present active participles. That said, be careful: the οντ marker changes in some forms when timid τ comes at the end of the word or scheming σ does its work to the dative masculine/neuter plural. In particular, that latter situation, with the resulting ουσ in the middle, wants to deceive you and make you think this is the feminine tense former. But this is not! So beware.
Example
λυ+οντ+ες
[Stem]
[Tense Former]
[Ending]
The tense former shows that this is clearly a present, active, participle, and the ending is from the Third Noun Pattern, nominative, masculine, plural. So, we can put that all together and parse λύοντες as a present, active, participle, nominative, masculine, plural from λύω.
Use this quizlet to practice parsing λύω as a present active participle. If you know the three key features for present active participles, you should be able to do well.
εἰμί as a Present Active Participle
It is important to mention the present active participle of εἰμί, since it is so common. In the masculine, the forms are ὢν, ὄντος, ὄντι, ὄντα, ὄντες, ὄντων, οὖσιν, and ὄντας. A quick comparison will reveal that these are identical to the tense former and participle endings in the λύω paradigm above. In other words, εἰμί effectively uses the present active participle form without any stem. This is also true for the feminine and neuter forms. Thus, the present active participle forms of εἰμί should not be hard for you to recognize.
Finally, note that εἰμί participles are always present and always active.²
Examples from the Greek NT
ἦλθεν γὰρ Ἰωάννης μήτε ἐσθίων μήτε πίνων, (NA28) For John came neither eating nor drinking, —Matthew 11:18
There are two present participles in this clause: ἐσθίων (eating) and πίνων (drinking). Can you parse them?
εσθι+ων
[Stem]
[Tense Former]
[Ending]
πιν+ων
[Stem]
[Tense Former]
[Ending]
They are both present, active, participles, nominative, masculine, singular from ἐσθίω and πίνω. We know this because of the present stem and the οντ tense former (timid τ drops off the end and the remaining -ον lengthens to -ων). They also both lack an ending, which accords with the nominative singular form of the third noun pattern.¹ Both participles are adverbs that describe what John was not doing when he came. Note how the participles’ imperfective aspect affect the meaning. The speaker portrays these actions as happening during the action of the main verb. Since the main verb is in the past, the participles also happen in the past during the main verb's action.
...ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ τῷ ἐγείροντι τοὺς νεκρούς· (NA28) ...but instead upon God who raises the dead. —2 Corinthians 1:9
In this phrase we have one participle: τῷ ἐγείροντι (who raises). Can you parse it?
εγειρ+οντ+ι
[Stem]
[Tense Former]
[Ending]
We see the present stem, the οντ tense former, and the third pattern ending. So, this is a present, active, participle, dative, masculine, singular from εγείρω. We know it is masculine and not neuter (which share this same form) because of what it modifies. This participle matches τῷ θεῷ in case, gender, and number. Therefore, it is an adjectival participle that describes τῷ θεῷ.
οὐ γάρ ἐστε ὑμεῖς οἱ λαλοῦντες ἀλλὰ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον (NA28) For you are not the ones who are speaking but instead the Holy Spirit. —Mark 13:11
οἱ λαλοῦντες is our participle. Can you parse it?
λαλε+οντ+ες
[Stem]
[Tense Former]
[Ending]
We see the present stem, the οντ tense former (λαλε + οντες = λαλοῦντες), and the third pattern ending. (Note that a vowel merger has occurred. As discussed here in Greek I, ε + ο has become οῦ.) So, this is a present, active, participle, nominative, masculine, plural from λαλέω. The participle has the article, which means it is an adjectival participle. More specifically, it is a substantival participle. The participle stands in for a noun: “the ones who are speaking.”
λυόντων δὲ αὐτῶν τὸν πῶλον εἶπαν οἱ κύριοι αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτούς… (NA28) Now, while they were untying the colt, its owners said to them... —Luke 19:33
Can you parse λυόντων?
λυ+οντ+ων
[Stem]
[Tense Former]
[Ending]
We see the present stem, the οντ tense former, and the third pattern ending. Therefore, λυόντων is a present, active, participle, genitive, masculine, plural from λύω.
This is a special kind of adverbial participle called a genitive absolute. When we see a genitive participle with its own genitive subject (αὐτῶν), it is called a genitive absolute. Adverbial participles usually borrow the main verb’s subject and occur in the nominative case. A genitive absolute allows an author to use an adverbial participle with a different subject. So, here we have "while they were untying...its owners said..."
Noun Pattern and the Article Songs (on repeat!)
Remember this from Greek I? It turns out that you need those endings for participles as well!
Cheat Sheet: Noun Patterns, The Article, 1st/2nd Pronouns, Participle Key FeaturespdfA printable cheat sheet containing the Greek Participles: 3 Key Features chart.
Cheat Sheet with BlankspdfIn this document, the Greek text has been removed from the above cheat sheet so you can fill it in for memory practice.