THE PAST TENSE
PAST PRESENT
The past tense in Greek is used to describe an action which occurred and was completed in the past. It is not used for repeated actions. Two regular verbs are given below, followed by irregulars.
PAST PERFECT
It has been said that this tense is as simple as anything can be in Greek! It is used in much the same way as the present perfect in English, that is, it is used of an action which has been done in the past but still has some reference to the present.
| Typ 1 | simple present | simple past | past participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| γραφω (I write) | εγραψα | γραψει | |
| γραφεις | εγραψες | γραψει | |
| γραφει | εγραψε | γραψει | |
| γραφουμε | (ε)γραψαμε | γραψει | |
| γραφετε | (ε)γραψατε | γραψει | |
| γραφουν | (ε)γραψαν | γραψει | |
| Similar verbs are: | φεγγω (I leave) | εφυγα | |
| διαβαζω (I read) | διαβασα | ||
| αρχιζω (I begin) | αρχισα | ||
| κοβω (I cut) | εκοψα | ||
| αγοραζω (I buy) | αγορασα | ||
| Typ 2 | |||
| αγαπω | αγαπησα | αγαππησει | |
| αγαπας | αγαπησες | αγαππησει | |
| αγαπα | αγαπησε | αγαππησει | |
| αγαπουμε | αγαπησαμε | αγαππησει | |
| αγαπατε | αγαπησατε | αγαππησει | |
| αγαπουν | αγαπησαν | αγαππησει | |
| Similar verbs are | προχωρω (I proceed) | προχωρησα | |
| προτημω (I prefer) | προτιμησα | ||
| ζητω (I ask) | ζητησα | ||
| πουλω (I buy) | πουλησα | ||
| Irregular verbs | |||
| πηγαινω (go) | πηγα | ||
| πηγαινεις | πηγες | ||
| πηγαινει | πηγε | ||
| πηγαινουμε | πηγαμε | ||
| πηγαινετε | πηγατε | ||
| πηγαινουν | πηγαν | ||
| ημουν (be) | |||
| ησουν | |||
| ηταν | |||
| ημαστε | |||
| ησαστε | |||
| ησαν |