The action denoted by a verb may be defined by the tense of the verb:
(a) As respects its progress. Thus it may be represented as in progress, or as completed, or indefinitely, i.e., as a simple event without reference to progress or completion. This corresponds to what is known as aspect in Greek grammar: the viewpoint or manner in which an action is portrayed.
(b) As respects its time, as past, present, or future. This is known as temporal reference, and it is most strictly observed only in the Indicative mood.
The tenses of the Indicative mood in general define the action of the verb in both these respects: aspect and time. For example, the aorist indicative expresses a simple past action, the imperfect indicative shows continuous past action, and the perfect indicative conveys a completed action with present relevance.
The tenses of the other moods (Subjunctive, Optative, Imperative, Infinitive, and Participle) in general define the action of the verb only as respects its aspect—not its time. In these moods, the present tense indicates progressive or continuous action, while the aorist tense indicates simple or undefined action. The perfect tense, when used outside the indicative, still carries the sense of completed action with a resultative focus.
Remark
The chief function of a Greek tense is thus not to denote time, but aspect. This aspectual function belongs to the tense-forms of all the moods, while the temporal function belongs primarily and almost exclusively to the Indicative mood.
Additional Notes
- Present Tense: Indicates ongoing or repeated action.
- Imperfect Tense: Indicates continuous or repeated past action (only in the indicative).
- Aorist Tense: Indicates undefined or summary action, typically past in the indicative, timeless elsewhere.
- Perfect Tense: Indicates a completed action with present relevance or enduring result.
- Pluperfect Tense: Indicates a completed action with past relevance (past of the perfect).
- Future Tense: Indicates action that will occur in the future (indicative only).
- Future Perfect Tense: Indicates action that will be completed in the future with lasting effects (rare and mostly in the indicative).
Understanding Greek tenses requires recognizing their dual role: they express how an action is viewed (aspect), and, in the indicative mood, when it occurs (time). This dual system gives Greek its precision and richness in expressing verbal action.
