The Aorist (Perfective Past)
The aorist is the PERFECTIVE past - a completed, whole action. Regular Group-1 verbs form it on a perfective stem (often φ/β/π + σ → ψ, κ/γ/χ + σ → ξ) with the endings -α, -ες, -ε, -αμε, -ατε, -αν and the augment é-: γράφω → έγραψα (“I wrote”).
The rule
The aorist is the perfective past - an action seen as a single completed whole. Regular Group-1 verbs build a perfective stem (φ/β/π + σ → ψ) and add the augment: γράφω → έγραψα (“I wrote”); Group-2 verbs use a -ησ- stem: αγαπώ → αγάπησα. Compare it directly with the imperfect έγραφα (“was writing”) - same verb, opposite aspect.
Paradigm
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | έγραψα | γράψαμε |
| 2nd | έγραψες | γράψατε |
| 3rd | έγραψε | έγραψαν |
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | αγάπησα | αγαπήσαμε |
| 2nd | αγάπησες | αγαπήσατε |
| 3rd | αγάπησε | αγάπησαν |