Optative Mood Functions

INDEPENDENT CLAUSES Optative of Wish -Introduced by ει γαρ or ειθε, or has no introductory word. Shows aspect. Negative is μη. -Translated as: “May...”, “I wish that...”, “Would that...” Potential Optative -Accompanied by particle αν, no introductory word. Indicates an action might occur. Shows aspect. Negative is ου. -Translated as: “...might...” CONDITIONAL SENTENCES Protasis of Past General -ει + optative -Translated as: “...did...” Protasis + Apodosis of Future Less Vivid -With αν in the apodosis. -Translated as: “...should do... would do...” Substitute Verb in Apodosis -Independent optative with usual negatives can substitute as verb in apodosis. -Translated as: “...may...” with negative μη, or as “...might...” with αν and with negative ου or ουκ. SUBORDINATE CLAUSES Past General Temporal Clause -Equivalent to protasis of past general . -Translated as: “...did...” Purpose Clause (Secondary Sequence) -Introduced by conjunctions ίνα, ως, όπως (“in order that”) with negative μη. -Particle αν can be added to purpose clauses introduced by όπως or ως. -Translated as: “...in order that... might...” Object Clause of Effort (Secondary Sequence) -Can take future optative instead of indicative, as well as present or showing aspect. -Translated as: simple aspect in future and aorist, repeated aspect in present. Fear Clause (Secondary Sequence) -Action subsequent to verb of fearing. Optative introduced by μη. Negative is μη ου. -Translated as: “...afraid...would/might...” Non-Conditional Relative Clause -Same rules apply as in independent optatives. -Translated as: “...as may/ I wish...would...” for optative of wish in relative clause and “...as...would...” for potential optative in relative clause. Indirect Statement & Indirect Question (Secondary Sequence) -In main clauses, all indicatives are changed to corresponding tenses of optatives, except for deliberative and anticipatory subjunctives (and past indicatives showing unreality). -Imperfects & pluperfects usually remain indicatives, but imperfect indicative can be represented by a present optative, and a pluperfect indicative by a optative. -In subordinate clauses in secondary sequence, no indicative of is changed to an optative, and any subjunctive with αν loses the αν if it becomes an optative. -Translated as: varies.