The Optative Mood

The mood of strong contingency or possibility. It expresses no definite anticipation of realization, rather, it only presents the action as conceivable.

The Volitive Optative (Wishes)

This use denotes a wish. It is the ordinary verbal form for expressing wishes and is the most common use of the optative.

The Potential Optative (Futuristic)

This use signifies what would happen on the fulfillment of some supposed condition. It is used in a clause which implies condition. The particle ἄν usually occurs with this use. It simply states that a thing could or might be possible.

The Deliberative Optative

The Optative is used a few times in the New Testament to express indirect questions. This use involves ἔιν (third person singular of the Present of εἰμίv). Normally an indirect question is expressed by the Indicative; however, the Optative gives the question a more tentative and cautious tone.

The Conditional Optative

This use, using ἄν or εί, is related to the potential Optative. The condition of the Optative is part of the fourth-class conditional sentence. Either the είv in the protasis with the Optative or the ἄν in the apodosis with the Optative will be found, but not both at the same time.

The Optative in Subordinate Clauses in Indirect Speech

The Optative is used in clauses introduced by πρίν ἥ.

Optative Mood

Not Likely (Wishful)

Present

Active
λύ οι μιλύ οι μεν
λύ οι ςλύ οι τε
λύ οιλύ οι εν
Middle
λυ οί μην λυ οί μεθα
λύ οι ο λύ οι θσε
λύ οι το λύ οι ντο

Future

Active
λύ σ οι μι λύ σ οι μεν
λύ σ οι ς λύ σ οι τε
λύ σ οι λύ σ οι εν
Middle
λυ σ οί μην λυ σ οί μεθα
λύ σ οι ο λύ σ οι σθε
λύ σ οι το λύ σ οι ντο
Passive
λυ θη σ οί μην λυ θη σ οί μεθα
λυ θή σ οι ο λυ θή σ οι σθε
λυ θή σ οι το λυ θή σ οι ντο

1st Aorist

Active
λύ σ αι μιλύ σ αι μεν
λύ σ αι ςλύ σ αι τε
λύ σ αιλύ σ αι εν
Middle
λυ σ αί μηνλύ σ αι μεθα
λύ σ αι ολύ σ αι σθε
λύ σ αι τολύ σ αι ντο
Passive
λυ θεί η νλυ θεί μεν
λυ θεί η ςλυ θεί η τε
λυ θεί ηλυ θεί η σαν

2nd Aorist

Active
λίπ οι μιλίπ οι μεν
λίπ οι ςλίπ οι τε
λίπ οιλίπ οι εν
Middle
λίπ οί μηνλίπ οί μεθα
λίπ οι ολίπ οι σθε
λίπ οι τολίπ οι ντο

1st Perfect

Active
λε λύ κ οι μιλε λύ κ οι μεν
λε λύ κ οι ςλε λύ κ οι τε
λε λύ κ οιλε λύ κ οι εν
Middle
λε λυ μένος εἴ η νλε λυ μένηοι εἴ η μεν
λε λυ μένος εἴ η ςλε λυ μένηοι εἴ η τε
λε λυ μένος εἴ ηλε λυ μένηοι εἴ η σαν

2nd Perfect

Active
λε λοίπ οι μιλε λοίπ οι μεν
λε λοίπ οι ςλε λοίπ οι τε
λε λοίπ οιλε λοίπ οι εν

Future Perfect

Passive
λε λύ σ οι μην λε λύ σ οι μεθα
λε λύ σ οι ο λε λύ σ οι σθε
λε λύ σ οι το λε λύ σ οι ντο