BBG Chapter 22 — First vs. Second Aorist Contrast Drill

BBG Chapter 22 · Second Aorist Active and Middle Indicative

Instructions: For each item, (1) identify the type as 1st or 2nd aorist, (2) parse person and number, (3) give the lexical form (1st sg present active indicative), and (4) provide an English translation. Click ▶ Answer to reveal the answer for that row.
#FormType (1st/2nd)PersonNumberLexical FormTranslation
1 ἔλυσα
1st · 1st · Sg · λύω · I loosed / I released
2 εἶπον
2nd · 1st · Sg · λέγω · I said
3 ἦλθεν
2nd · 3rd · Sg · ἔρχομαι · He came
4 εἶδον
2nd · 1st · Sg · ὁράω · I saw
5 ἐπίστευσας
1st · 2nd · Sg · πιστεύω · You believed
6 ἔλαβεν
2nd · 3rd · Sg · λαμβάνω · He took
7 ἐδίδαξεν
1st · 3rd · Sg · διδάσκω · He taught
8 ἔβαλεν
2nd · 3rd · Sg · βάλλω · He threw / cast
9 ἠκούσαμεν
1st · 1st · Pl · ἀκούω · We heard
10 ἔγνω
2nd · 3rd · Sg · γινώσκω · He knew
11 ἐκηρύξατε
1st · 2nd · Pl · κηρύσσω · You (pl.) preached
12 ἔφαγεν
2nd · 3rd · Sg · ἐσθίω · He ate
13 ἔσωσεν
1st · 3rd · Sg · σῴζω · He saved
14 ἀπέθανεν
2nd · 3rd · Sg · ἀποθνῄσκω · He died
15 ἐδόξασαν
1st · 3rd · Pl · δοξάζω · They glorified
16 ἐγένετο
2nd · 3rd · Sg · γίνομαι · It came to pass / He became
17 ἐπίστευσαν
1st · 3rd · Pl · πιστεύω · They believed
18 εὗρον
2nd · 3rd · Pl · εὑρίσκω · They found
19 ἀπήγγειλαν
1st · 3rd · Pl · ἀπαγγέλλω · They reported / announced
20 ἤγαγεν
2nd · 3rd · Sg · ἄγω · He led / brought

Discussion Questions

  1. What are the four principal differences in form between a 1st aorist and a 2nd aorist active indicative? List the stem, connecting vowel, and endings for each.
  2. Items 3, 6, 8, 14, 16, 18, 20 are 2nd aorists of irregular verbs. For each, identify whether the difficulty lies in the stem change, the augment, or both.
  3. Items 10 and 19 — ἔγνω (3rd sg) and ἀπήγγειλαν (3rd pl). Both are aorists but look quite different from a standard paradigm. What clues tell you each is an aorist rather than a present or imperfect?