Stress-Tested, Trap-Aware, Decision Chart
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Important methodological note
This chart resolves the vast majority of reverse-parsing traps by prioritizing stem recognition, mood, and endings.Where Greek morphology itself is genuinely ambiguous (e.g., contract present vs. liquid future), this chart flags the ambiguity and requires lemma/principal-part confirmation. This reflects linguistic reality, not a defect in the system.
Golden Rules (Read First)
- σ never determines tense by itself.
σ only narrows the field to future or aorist. Mood and endings decide. - Augment belongs to past indicative only.
No augment ≠ future. - Mood outranks tense in parsing.
- Imperatives are never future.
- Recognition beats derivation. Identify the stem you see.
Interactive Search
Search identifies possible parses. Apply the Golden Rules before deciding.
σ-Stem Decision Logic
- Identify mood (indicative / subjunctive / imperative)
- Check ending
- Only then determine tense
σ + subjunctive ending = aorist subjunctive
σ + imperative ending = aorist imperative
Core Verb Endings (Alphabetized)
| Ending | #1 Candidate | Other Options | Diagnostic Checklist |
|---|---|---|---|
| -αι | aor act inf | dat sg / 3pl pres mid | 1. σ before αι? → aor |
| -ατε | Aor Impv 2pl | — | Imperative only; future impossible |
| -ας | 2sg aor act ind (liquid & μι) | 3sg pres/aor act | Augment + no σ? → 2sg aorist |
| -ε(ν) | 3sg impf ind | 2nd aor, inf | 1. Augment? → impf |
| -ει | Pres Ind / Noun | — | Article → noun; no article → verb |
| -εις | 2sg pres act ind | fut | 1. σ before? → fut |
| -εται | 3sg pres mid/pass ind | aor/fut/perf | 1. Augment? → aor/fut / 2. θ before η? → aor pass / 3. Redupl? → perf |
| -ετε | Pres Ind 2pl / Pres Impv 2pl | — | Context: statement vs command |
| -έτω | Pres Act Impv 3sg | — | Imperative ending; imperatives are never future |
| -θι | 2sg aor mid impv | — | Rare |
| -ῃ / -ῃτε | Aor Subj | — | σ + lengthened vowel = aorist subj |
| -ῃ/ῇ | 3sg pres mid ind (contract) | impv | 1. Command? → impv |
| -ήσω | 1sg fut mid | — | η + σω |
| -ήσει | 3sg fut mid | — | η + σει |
| -ηκα | 1sg perfect act | — | Redupl (+ κ) |
| -ημαι | 1sg perfect mid/pass | — | Redupl + -μαι; Pluperfect only if augmented or clearly periphrastic |
| -κα | 1sg perf act | — | Redupl + κα |
| -μαι | 1sg perf mid/pass | pres mid | Redupl + μαι |
| -μεν | 1pl pres act (μι) | mid | 1. -ομαι stem? → mid (Check for -ομαι stem before assuming middle) |
| -μένος | Perf Mid/Pass Ptc | - | Perfect participle; reduplication may be visible or suppressed |
| –μην | 1sg impf mid / 1sg aor mid ind | 1sg Plpf mid ind | 1. Augment? → impf mid / 2. σα before? → aorist middle / 3. Redupl? → plpf mid (old form, rare in NT) |
| -μι | 1sg pres act (μι) | — | μι-verb only |
| -ναι | inf aor act | pres inf | 1. σ before? → aor |
| -ντο | 3pl impf/aor mid (secondary) | — | 1. Augment? → imperfect middle / 2. σα before? → aorist middle |
| -ομαι | 1sg pres mid ind | — | — |
| -ομεν | 1pl pres act ind | fut | 1. σ before ο? → fut |
| -ον | Aor Impv 2sg / Aor or Impf Ind 1sg / Noun | — | Mood, first then context decisive |
| -ουσι(ν) | 3pl pres act ind | dat pl | 1. Article (τοῖς)? → noun |
| -σαν | 3pl aor act ind | aor pass | 1. θ before η? → pass |
| -ς | 2sg pres act (μι) | nom sg | 1. Article? → noun |
| -σει / -σουσι(ν) | Fut Ind | — | Indicative endings |
| -σε(ν) | 3sg aor act ind (1st aor) | impf / 2nd aor | Aug + σα? → 1st aor |
| -σι(ν) | 3sg pres act (μι) | dat pl | 1. Movable ν? → verb |
| -σθαι | inf mid/pass | pres inf | 1. θ? → aor |
| -ται | 3sg perf mid/pass | pres mid/pass | Redupl + ται |
| -ω | Pres Ind (thematic / contract) | — | If σ present → future; if no σ → present. 2nd aorist never ends in -ω. (Indicative 1sg 2nd aorist ends in -ον) |
| -ῶ | Pres Ind (contract) / Fut Ind (liquid) | — | Morphology alone may be ambiguous. Lemma confirmation required. |
| -ωμεν / -ῶμεν | Aor Subj | — | No future subj exists |
Imperative Recognition (Explicit)
Imperative mood is carried by endings alone.
Aorist Active Imperative
- -ον → 2sg (φύλαξον)
- -ατε → 2pl (φυλάξατε)
Present Active Imperative
- -ε → 2sg
- -ετε → 2pl
Known Morphological Ambiguities (Flagged, Not “Solved”)
- Contract present vs liquid future (-ῶ)
- Pronoun disambiguation (τίς/τις, αὕτη/αὐτή) — requires clause-level analysis
These are morphological ambiguities, not parsing failures.
Aorist Passive vs Future Passive
| Marker | Parse |
|---|---|
| -θη- + non-σ ending | Aorist Passive |
| -θησ- | Future Passive |
| -θῆτε | Aorist Pass Subj / Impv 2pl |
Middle-Voice Verbs with Active Meaning (Commonly Called “Deponents”)
| Ending | Example | Voice | Tense | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -ομαι | ἔρχομαι, πορεύομαι | Middle | Present | Subject acts with personal involvement |
| -οῦμαι | ἐπορεύουμαι | Middle | Imperfect | Contract middle |
| -ήσομαι | πορεύσομαι, ἐλεύσομαι | Middle | Future | No active future in NT |
| -ήθην | ἐβαπτίσθην, ἠγέρθην | Passive | Aorist passive | Often middle/reflexive nuance |
These are genuine middle forms. The subject is both agent and affected party (“I go myself”). The label “deponent” is traditional but unnecessary.
Full μι-Verbs
| Verb | 1sg | 2sg | 3sg | 1pl | 2pl | 3pl | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| δίδωμι | δίδωμι | δίδως | δίδωσι(ν) | δίδομεν | δίδοτε | διδόασι(ν) | Redupl δ- |
| τίθημι | τίθημι | τίθης | τίθησι(ν) | τίθεμεν | τίθετε | τιθέασι(ν) | |
| ἵστημι | ἵστημι | ἵστης | ἵστησι(ν) | ἵσταμεν | ἵστατε | ἵστασι(ν) | |
| Aorist | ἔδωκα | ἔθηκα | ἔστησα | — | — | — | 2nd aor |
Quick Test: Stem ends in -μι + -σι(ν) in 3sg → μι-verb.
-μι Verbs & Suppletive Systems
Do not attempt derivation. Identify the stem you see.
| Form | Lemma | Parse |
|---|---|---|
| ἔδωκεν | δίδωμι | Aor Act Ind |
| ἔθηκεν | τίθημι | Aor Act Ind |
| εἶπον | λέγω | 2nd Aor Act Ind |
| ἕστηκα | ἵστημι | Perfect (present sense) |
Perfect System
| Tense | Active Endings | Mid/Pass Endings | Redupl Clue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect | -κα, -ας, -ε, -αμεν, -ατε, -ασι(ν) | -μαι, -σαι, -ται, -μεθα, -σθε, -νται | πε-/κε-/τε- |
Perfect 3sg in Koine: Always -ε(ν) or -δε (never -σι).
→ -δε = perfect 3sg from stems ending in dental (οἶδα → οἶδε, ἵστημι → ἕστηκε).
Perfect System (Visible & Suppressed)
| Clue | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Reduplication (explicit or phonological) | Perfect stem |
| -κ- | Perfect Active |
| No visible reduplication | May be suppressed (especially in compounds) |
| Stative meaning (οἶδα, πέποιθα) | Perfect with present sense |
Pluperfect (Koine)
| Form | Identification |
|---|---|
| ἐ- + perfect stem + -κειν / -κει / -κεσαν | Pluperfect Active |
| ἦν + perfect participle | Periphrastic Pluperfect |
⚠️ Note: Forms in -ηκα belong to the perfect, not the pluperfect. Koine pluperfects are identified by ἐ- + perfect stem + -κειν family or periphrasis.
Participles — Reliable Reverse Anchors
| Ending | Parse |
|---|---|
| -ων / -ουσα / -ον | Pres Act |
| -όμενος / -ομένη / -όμενον | Pres Mid/Pass |
| -σας / -σασα / -σαν | Aor Act |
| -θείς / -θεῖσα / -θέν | Aor Pass |
| -μένος / -μένη / -μένον | Perf Mid/Pass |
1pl Middle-Voice Endings (-μεθα Family)
| Ending | Tense/Voice | Typical Form | Quick Test |
|---|---|---|---|
| -μεθα | Present middle | λυόμεθα | No augment, no σ |
| -μεθα | Imperfect middle | ἐλυόμεθα | Augment present |
| -όμεθα | Present middle (contract) | ποιούμεθα | Contract stem |
| -σόμεθα | Future middle | λυσόμεθα | σ + ο + μεθα |
| -σάμεθα | Aorist middle | ἐλυσάμεθα | σα + μεθα |
Rule: Any 1pl ending with -μεθα (or variant) = middle voice. Look before the μεθα for tense.
Reduplication + Stop Assimilation
| Redupl | Stem Initial | Result | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| πε-/βε-/φε- | π, β, φ | πε | πίπτω → πέπτωκα |
| κε-/γε-/χε- | κ, γ, χ | κε | κρίνω → κέκρικα |
| τε-/δε-/θε- | τ, δ, θ | τε | θνῄσκω → τέθνηκα |
| -ψ- | π/β + σ | Labial + σ | λείπω → ἔλειψα (aor) |
| -θη- | Aorist passive | — | ἐκλήθην |
| -θῆ- | Future passive | — | βαπτισθήσομαι |
| -θη- | Bare stem | (before any ending) | Look one letter ahead |
Rule: Redupl + κα/μαι/ται = perfect. No augment = present perfect.
Rule: π + σ → ψ in aorist/future.
Rule: θ + η = passive (aorist or future). Check letter after η: ν/ς/μεν → aorist; σ → future.
Expanded Square of Stops
| Cluster | Original | Clue | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ππ- | -μπ- / -νπ- | Labial prefix | συμπίπτω → συν- + πίπτω |
| -ττ- | -ντ- / -νδ- / -δ- / -θ- | Dental prefix OR stem + σ | ἐντίθημι → ἐν- + τίθημι<br>τρέπω → τρέψω |
| -κκ- | -γκ- / -νκ- | Velar prefix | συγκαλέω → συν- + καλέω |
| -γγ- | -γκ- | Velar + γ-root | συγγενής → συν- + γένος |
| -γχ- | -γκ- | Velar + χ-root | συγχαίρω → συν- + γαίρω |
| -σσ- | -ζ- / -σ- | Sigma double | γίγνομαι → γενήσομαι |
| -ψ- | π/β + σ | Labial + σ assimilation | λείπω → ἔλειψα |
| -θη- | Aorist passive stem | θ + η | ἐκλήθην |
| -θῆ- | Future passive stem | θ + η + σ | βαπτισθήσομαι |
Rule: Look for doubled consonants — they usually come from assimilation or prefix + stem.
INFINITIVE LOOK-ALIKE ALERT
| Ending | Looks Like | Actually Is | Quick Test |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ειν | 3sg pres act ind | pres act inf | ἵνα/τοῦ + verb? |
| -αι | dat sg noun / 3pl pres mid | aor act inf | σ before αι? |
| -σθαι | dat pl noun | mid/pass inf (all tenses) | θ present? |
| -ναι | dat pl noun | 2nd aor act inf | No σ? |
| -θῆναι | future passive | future passive inf | θ + η + ναι? |
Golden Rule: Context beats morphology. Follows ἵνα/τοῦ? → infinitive.
LOOK-ALIKE ALERT — Every Major Trap
| Form | Looks Like | Almost Always Is (NT) | Quick Test |
|---|---|---|---|
| -αι | dat sg noun / 3pl pres mid | aor act inf | σ before αι? |
| -ειν | 3sg pres act ind | pres act inf | ἵνα/τοῦ + verb? |
| -ναι | dat pl noun | 2nd aor act inf | No σ? |
| -σθαι | dat pl noun | mid/pass inf (all tenses) | θ present? |
| -θῆναι | future passive | future passive inf | θ + η + ναι? |
| -ῇ | 2sg pres act subj | 3sg 2nd aor act subj (μι) | μι-verb stem? |
| -ῃ | 3sg pres mid ind (contract) | 2sg pres act subj (contract) | ἵνα/μή/ἐάν? → subjunctive |
| -ῇς | 2sg pres mid ind (contract) | 2sg aor act subj (liquid) | Stem change? |
| -ῃς | 2sg pres mid ind | 2sg 2nd aor act subj | Augment + no σ → aorist |
| -ῇσθα | 2sg pres mid ind | 2sg aor mid ind (μι) | μι-verb? |
| -ῃτε | 1pl pres act ind (contract) | 2pl pres act subj | ἵνα/μή? → subj |
| -ῆτε | 1pl pres pass ind | 2pl aor pass impv/subj | Augment or θ? → aorist |
| -οῦμαι | 1sg pres pass ind | Middle with active meaning | No active form? |
| -ωμεν | 1pl pres act subj | 1pl 2nd aor act subj | Augment + no σ → aorist |
| -ῶμεν | 1pl pres act ind (contract) | 1pl pres act subj (contract) | ἵνα/μή/ἐάν? → subjunctive |
Noun/Adjective Collisions
| Ending | Verb Option | Noun/Adj Option | Quick Test |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ον | 1sg aor/ind impf | acc sg m/n | Movable ν? |
| -αι | 3pl pres mid ind | dat pl | Article? |
| -ει | 3sg pres act ind | dat sg | Article (τῷ)? |
| -ας | acc pl m | 2sg aor act ind (μι) | Augment? |
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Changelog
| Version | Date Published | Description |
|---|---|---|
| v1.7 | Dec 31, 2025 | Stress-Tested Edition - Corrected pluperfect endings; clarified -ω ambiguity; surfaced aorist imperative endings; refined participle tables; added explicit ambiguity warnings where lemma confirmation is required. |
| v1.6 | Dec 30, 2025 | MASTER EDITION — Infinitive alert, -μεθα family, ψ assimilation, -θῆ, full look-alikes, 150-card Anki |
| v1.5 | Dec 22, 2025 | True middle-voice verbs, full μι-verbs, 120-card Anki |
| v1.4 | Nov 30, 2025 | Perfect system, reduplication stops, Look-Alike Alert |
| v1.3 | Nov 23, 2025 | -ήσει futures, -σαι, liquid fut, sigma doubles |
| v1.2 | Nov 16, 2025 | Participles, nouns, search bar |
| v1.1 | Nov 9, 2025 | Square of Stops |
| v1.0 | Nov 2, 2025 | Core verbs |
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