Hi Hiro,

I must point out that the aorist tense in the indicative DOES mean past at all times. It's only in the subjunctive, the imperative and the infinitive forms that the use of the aorist STEM denotes a verbal aspect, that of something being momentary or happening once as opposed to continuously or more than once.

In the example "Ήρθε η ώρα να φύγουμε." the aorist clearly states past in the sense that something has happened (the time to go has arrived) because it's in the indicative mood which expresses something that is a fact, something certain.

Enjoy studying your new book!

Stefania

Team GreekPod101.com

Hi Stefana

The point taken!

The thing is, I always compare Greek with Spanish and Italian.

The verbal semantics in Greek is very accurate. I recognise the Aorist does not mean past but a verbal aspect.

I bought this book yesterday

The Syntax and Semantics of the Verb in Classical Greek ISBN-13: 978-0226718583

Greek language is tremendously deep but less than Sanskrit.

Thanks indeed.

Γεια σου Hiro,

The literal translation of "Ήρθε η ώρα να φύγουμε." would indeed be "The time for us to go came." (the time to go wasn't here till it CAME so now it's time to go!) but that's not a natural thing to say in English, so in English, it gets rendered with the present tense: "It's time for us to go." (the time now is the time to go) Translations and languages themselves are very "organic". They have to adapt even if that means rendering things in a totally unexpected way such as using aorist here.

As for your sentences, they are correct but for 3 this is something I'd say when describing a situation in the past.

Cheers,

Stefania

Team GreekPod101.com

Γεια σου Στεφανία

Question of Verbal aspect.

Ήρθε η ώρα να φύγουμε."It's time to go." (for us). Ήρθε = 3rd person singular simple past form of έρχομαι, aoristos.

Translated as present but the greek verb is in aoristos, so, the translation would be "*The time came for us to go"

I understand why να φύγουμε comes but this Ήρθε drives me crazy.

1 Έχει έρθει η ώρα να φύγουμε.

2. Έιναι η ώρα να φύγουμε.

3.Ήταν η ώρα να φύγουμε.

4. Έρχεται η ώρα να φύγουμε.

Are they correct? What I don't understand is the use of Aoristos in this phrase.

έυχαριστώ

You're very welcome, Kati! Let us know if you have any questions!

Thank you,

Jae

Team GreekPod101.com

Γεια σου!

Είναι τέσσερις το απόγευμα.

Thank you for the explanation below!

- Kati

Hi Clare,

am = π.μ. = προ μεσημβρίας

pm = μ.μ. = μετά μεσημβρίαν

This, however, sounds very formal and dated because it's an older form of Greek. People today just say things like "το πρωί", "το μεσημέρι", "το απόγευμα", "το βράδυ", "τα μεσάνυχτα" after they say the time. For example:

είναι εφτά η ώρα το πρωί

είναι δώδεκα και τέταρτο το μεσημέρι

είναι τρεις και είκοσι το απόγευμα

είναι έντεκα παρά δέκα το βράδυ

είναι δώδεκα και μισή τα μεσάνυχτα

You can also omit the last part (after the time) if it is understood by the context.

I hope this helps.

Stefania

Team GreekPod101.com

hi

I'm a bit confused how to say am or pm?

Thanks

Γεια σου Ελένη,

τώρα βλέπω γράφεις τέλεια! Σούπερ!

Στεφανία

Team GreekPod101.com

Ναααααι!!!!! Και ευχαριστώ:smile: