Monographs

Herbert Weir Smyth [n.d.], A Greek Grammar for Colleges; Machine readable text [info] [word count] [Smyth].

1909

The following statement presents the chief differences between imperfect and aorist as narrative tenses.

Imperfect Aorist

circumstances, details, course of mere fact of occurrence, general state-

action ment

progress, enduring condition, con- consummation (culmination, final is-

tinued activity sue, summary process)

general description isolated points, characteristic examples

endeavour attainment

actions subordinate to the main main actions, without reference to

action other actions

Cp. ξυνεστράτευον they served with them in the war, ξυνεστράτευσαν they took the field with them (both in T. 7.57). ἔπειθον I tried to persuade, ἔπεισα I succeeded in persuading (both in X. C. 5.5.22).

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Herbert Weir Smyth [n.d.], A Greek Grammar for Colleges; Machine readable text [info] [word count] [Smyth].

Imperfect	Aorist
circumstances, details, course of	mere fact of occurrence, general state-
action	ment
progress, enduring condition, con-	consummation (culmination, final is-
tinued activity	sue, summary process)
general description	isolated points, characteristic examples
endeavour	attainment
actions subordinate to the main	main actions, without reference to
action	other actions