A2 Verb Tenses 1 min read Médio

Aorist Tense Formation

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Pratique

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The Aorist is your go-to tense for completed actions in the past; just remember to add the augment and the specific ending.

  • Use it for single, completed actions (e.g., 'I ate' - έφαγα).
  • Add the augment (usually 'ε-') to the start of the verb.
  • Use the specific Aorist endings (e.g., -α, -ες, -ε for active voice).
Augment (ε) + Verb Stem + Ending = Aorist

Aorist Active Conjugation (Verb: λύνω - to untie)

Person Singular Plural
1st
έλυσα
λύσαμε
2nd
έλυσες
λύσατε
3rd
έλυσε
έλυσαν

Meanings

The Aorist is used to describe a completed action in the past, viewed as a single, finished event.

1

Completed Action

A specific action that happened and finished in the past.

“Έγραψα το γράμμα.”

“Είδες την ταινία;”

2

Sequential Events

Used to list a series of events in a narrative.

“Μπήκα, κάθισα και παρήγγειλα καφέ.”

“Ξύπνησα, ντύθηκα και έφυγα.”

3

Sudden Change

Used to describe an event that interrupted a state.

“Εκεί που διάβαζα, χτύπησε το τηλέφωνο.”

“Έβρεχε, αλλά ξαφνικά σταμάτησε.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Aorist Tense Formation
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Augment + Stem + Ending
έλυσα
Negative
Δεν + Augment + Stem + Ending
δεν έλυσα
Question
Augment + Stem + Ending + ?
έλυσα;
Irregular
Varies
πήγα
Passive
Augment + Passive Stem + Ending
λύθηκα

Espectro de formalidade

Formal
Ολοκλήρωσα την εργασία.

Ολοκλήρωσα την εργασία. (Work)

Neutro
Τελείωσα τη δουλειά.

Τελείωσα τη δουλειά. (Work)

Informal
Τελείωσα με αυτό.

Τελείωσα με αυτό. (Work)

Gíria
Το 'κλεισα.

Το 'κλεισα. (Work)

The Aorist Universe

Aorist

Actions

  • έφαγα I ate

Movement

  • πήγα I went

Exemplos por nível

1

Έφαγα ένα μήλο.

I ate an apple.

2

Πήγα στο σπίτι.

I went home.

3

Είδες τον Γιώργο;

Did you see George?

4

Δεν έπαιξα μπάλα.

I didn't play ball.

1

Αγόρασα ένα καινούργιο κινητό.

I bought a new mobile.

2

Τι έκανες χθες το βράδυ;

What did you do last night?

3

Δεν βρήκα τα κλειδιά μου.

I didn't find my keys.

4

Μιλήσαμε με τον διευθυντή.

We spoke with the manager.

1

Μόλις τελείωσα την εργασία μου.

I just finished my work.

2

Ξαφνικά, άρχισε να βρέχει.

Suddenly, it started to rain.

3

Του είπα την αλήθεια.

I told him the truth.

4

Δεν κατάλαβα τι εννοούσες.

I didn't understand what you meant.

1

Ενώ περπατούσα, βρήκα ένα πορτοφόλι.

While I was walking, I found a wallet.

2

Αποφάσισα να αλλάξω καριέρα.

I decided to change career.

3

Δεν μου έδωσες την ευκαιρία.

You didn't give me the chance.

4

Συναντηθήκαμε στο κέντρο της πόλης.

We met in the city center.

1

Επέβαλε την άποψή του με αυστηρότητα.

He imposed his view with strictness.

2

Δεν υπέκυψε στις πιέσεις.

He did not succumb to the pressures.

3

Ανέλυσε τα δεδομένα με ακρίβεια.

He analyzed the data with precision.

4

Ενέκρινε το σχέδιο χωρίς δισταγμό.

He approved the plan without hesitation.

1

Εξέφρασε την απόλυτη ικανοποίησή του.

He expressed his absolute satisfaction.

2

Διατύπωσε μια θεωρία που άλλαξε τα πάντα.

He formulated a theory that changed everything.

3

Κατέκτησε την κορυφή με κόπο.

He conquered the summit with effort.

4

Αναγνώρισε το λάθος του δημόσια.

He acknowledged his mistake publicly.

Fácil de confundir

Aorist Tense Formation vs Imperfect vs Aorist

Both are past tenses.

Aorist Tense Formation vs Perfect vs Aorist

Both refer to past.

Aorist Tense Formation vs Passive Aorist vs Active Aorist

Different endings.

Erros comuns

✗

λύνωσα

✓

έλυσα

Forgot the augment.
✗

έλυσα χθες όλη μέρα

✓

έλυνα χθες όλη μέρα

Used Aorist for duration.
✗

πήγανα

✓

πήγαινα

Mixed up Aorist/Imperfect.
✗

έφαγα χθες κάθε μέρα

✓

έτρωγα χθες κάθε μέρα

Habitual action.
✗

έπια

✓

ήπια

Wrong stem.
✗

δεν έφαγα τίποτα

✓

δεν έφαγα τίποτα

Correct, but watch for double negatives.
✗

έγραψα το γράμμα χθες

✓

έγραψα το γράμμα χθες

Correct usage.
✗

έλεψα

✓

είπα

Used regular ending on irregular verb.
✗

θα έλυσα

✓

έλυσα

Added future marker.
✗

έλυσα όταν έβρεχε

✓

έλυσα όταν άρχισε να βρέχει

Aspect mismatch.
✗

επήγα

✓

πήγα

Double augment.
✗

έλυσα το πρόβλημα για ώρες

✓

έλυνα το πρόβλημα για ώρες

Duration error.
✗

έχω έλυσα

✓

έχω λύσει

Confused with Perfect.

Padrões de frases

Χθες ___ (verb in Aorist).

Δεν ___ (verb in Aorist) τίποτα.

Όταν ___ (verb in Aorist), ένιωσα χαρά.

Παρόλο που ___, δεν ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Έφτασα!

Social Media very common

Είδα μια ωραία ταινία.

Job Interview common

Δούλεψα σε μεγάλη εταιρεία.

Travel common

Έκλεισα το ξενοδοχείο.

Food Delivery occasional

Παρήγγειλα πίτσα.

Email common

Σας έστειλα το αρχείο.

💡

Watch the Augment

Always check if your verb starts with a vowel, as the augment might change.
⚠️

Irregulars

Don't guess the Aorist of common verbs like 'λέω' or 'πηγαίνω'. Memorize them.
🎯

Narrative Flow

Use the Aorist for the main events of your story to keep it moving.
💬

Regional Variation

Be aware that in some dialects, the augment might be dropped or changed.

Smart Tips

Learn the Aorist stem at the same time as the present.

Learning only 'λύνω'. → Learning 'λύνω' and 'έλυσα'.

Alternate between Aorist and Imperfect.

Using only Aorist. → Using Imperfect for setting, Aorist for action.

Check if it's irregular.

Assuming it's regular. → Checking the dictionary.

Don't worry about the augment too much if you forget it.

Stopping mid-sentence. → Continuing and focusing on the ending.

Pronúncia

έ-λυ-σα

Stress

The stress in the Aorist often moves to the syllable before the ending.

Statement

Έφαγα. ↘

Finality

Question

Έφαγες; ↗

Inquiry

Memorize

Mnemônico

Aorist is 'A-OK' because it's done and dusted.

Associação visual

Imagine a camera taking a single photo of a finished event. That photo is the Aorist.

Rhyme

For the past that's done and true, add an epsilon and an alpha too.

Story

Yesterday, I woke up (ξύπνησα), I drank coffee (ήπια), and I went to work (πήγα). All these actions are finished, so they are all in the Aorist.

Word Web

έφαγαπήγαείδαέκαναείπαέγραψα

Desafio

Write 5 sentences about what you did yesterday using only Aorist verbs.

Notas culturais

Standard usage, very common in daily life.

Often uses specific dialectal forms.

Different intonation and some vocabulary differences.

Derived from the Ancient Greek Aorist, which meant 'undefined' or 'unlimited'.

Iniciadores de conversa

“

Τι έκανες το Σαββατοκύριακο;

“

Πού πήγες διακοπές πέρυσι;

“

Ποια ταινία είδες τελευταία;

“

Πότε τελείωσες το πανεπιστήμιο;

Temas para diário

Describe your morning routine yesterday.
Write about a trip you took.
Tell a story about a surprise you had.
Reflect on a major life decision.

Erros comuns

Incorrect

Correto

Incorrect

Correto

Incorrect

Correto

Incorrect

Correto

Test Yourself

Fill in the correct Aorist form.

Χθες εγώ ___ (πηγαίνω) στο σινεμά.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: πήγα
Irregular Aorist of πηγαίνω.
Choose the correct verb. Múltipla escolha

Τι ___ (έκανες/έκανες) χθες;

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: έκανες
Aorist is needed for past.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Εγώ λύσα το πρόβλημα.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: έλυσα
Need augment.
Reorder the sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Όλα είναι σωστά
Greek word order is flexible.
Translate to Greek. Tradução

I saw him.

Answer starts with: Τον...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Τον είδα
Aorist of βλέπω.
Conjugate 'γράφω' (Aorist). Conjugation Drill

Εμείς ___ το γράμμα.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: γράψαμε
1st plural ending.
Match the verb to its Aorist. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: είπα
Irregular.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'αγόρασα' and 'χθες'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1 και 3
Both are correct.

Score: /8

Exercicios praticos

8 exercises
Fill in the correct Aorist form.

Χθες εγώ ___ (πηγαίνω) στο σινεμά.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: πήγα
Irregular Aorist of πηγαίνω.
Choose the correct verb. Múltipla escolha

Τι ___ (έκανες/έκανες) χθες;

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: έκανες
Aorist is needed for past.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Εγώ λύσα το πρόβλημα.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: έλυσα
Need augment.
Reorder the sentence. Sentence Reorder

έφαγα / χθες / πίτσα / εγώ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Όλα είναι σωστά
Greek word order is flexible.
Translate to Greek. Tradução

I saw him.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Τον είδα
Aorist of βλέπω.
Conjugate 'γράφω' (Aorist). Conjugation Drill

Εμείς ___ το γράμμα.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: γράψαμε
1st plural ending.
Match the verb to its Aorist. Match Pairs

λέω -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: είπα
Irregular.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'αγόρασα' and 'χθες'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1 και 3
Both are correct.

Score: /8

Perguntas frequentes (8)

The augment is the 'ε-' added to the start of a verb in the past tense.

Most do, but some irregulars change their stem instead.

No, use the Imperfect for habits.

The endings are easy, but irregular stems take practice.

Use it for the main events that move the plot forward.

You need to check a verb dictionary or list.

Yes, it is used in all registers.

They are very similar in function.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Pretérito Indefinido

Spanish has more irregular stems.

French moderate

Passé Simple

Register difference.

German moderate

Präteritum

German uses Perfekt in speech.

Japanese partial

Ta-form

No augment in Japanese.

Arabic high

Past Tense (Madi)

Arabic has no augment.

Chinese low

Le (了)

No verb conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Connected Grammar

Imperfect Tense

Contrast

Essential for understanding aspect.

Present Tense

Prerequisite

Base for verb stems.

Passive Aorist

Builds On

Expands your range.

Future Tense

Similar

Uses similar stems.

Next
Irregular Aorist Stems
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