Subjunctive Mood
Possibility, purpose, or uncertainty
The subjunctive mood expresses possibility, purpose, exhortation, or
action that may (or may not) happen.
Common uses:
• Purpose clauses: ἵνα/ὅπως + subjunctive ("in order that...")
• Fear clauses: μή + subjunctive ("lest...")
• Hortatory: first person plural ("let us go!")
• Deliberative questions: "What should we do?"
• Future more vivid conditions: ἐάν + subjunctive
Formation: lengthened thematic vowel (ω/η instead of ο/ε)
• Present: λύω → λύω (but η/ω throughout)
• Aorist: ἔλυσα → λύσω (no augment!)
Examples from Texts
Here are some words showing the subjunctive mood in actual Greek texts:
ἐπαινῶσιν
ἐπαινέω
approve, applaud, commend
verb
plural
present
active
subjunctive
παρόψεται
παροράω
look at by the way, notice, remark
verb
singular
aorist
middle
subjunctive
ὑποχυθῇ
ὑποχέω
pour
verb
singular
aorist
passive
subjunctive
ἐπιχέῃ
ἐπιχέω
pour over
verb
singular
present
active
subjunctive
ἐνυβρίσουσιν
ἐνυβρίζω
insult
verb
plural
aorist
active
subjunctive
παμφαίνῃσιν
παμφαίνω
shine
verb
singular
present
active
subjunctive
πορνευθῇ
πορνεύω
prostitute
verb
singular
aorist
passive
subjunctive
ἐκγελῶσιν
ἐκγελάω
laugh out, laugh loud
verb
plural
present
active
subjunctive