Basil L. Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek

The optative with “ἄν” varies in tone from strong assurance (must) to faint presumption (might).¹ May be is often a convenient rendering for the positive, can't for the negative. Even shall and will sometimes serve to reproduce the impression, while would and should give the regular translation in formulated conditional sentences. So far from necessarily denoting uncertainty, it is the combination most frequently used to indicate moral certainty, and sometimes serves as a climax to the indicative. Especially common is the aorist optative with “ἄν” to express total negation, which cannot be brought out so well by the future indicative.²

“φαῦλοι . . . ἂν τῷ γε σῷ λόγῳ εἶεν”, PLATO, Apol. 28B-C; They must have been (must be considered) sorry fellows according to your account (437). “ὥρα ἂν εἴη . . . πάλιν σε φιλεῖν ἐμέ”, XEN. Cyr. 1.4.28; It must be time for you to kiss me again. “οὐδὲν ἂν κακὸν εἴη” (sc. “ὁ Ἔρως”), PLATO, Phaedr. 242E; Eros can't be anything bad. “οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἀπέλθοιμ᾽, ἀλλὰ κόψω τὴν θύραν”, AR. Ach. 403; No, I'm not going off, but I will knock at the door.

ISOC.8.39: “αἰσχυνθείην ἄν” (should), “εἰ φανείην κτἑ”. 11.20: “εἰ . . . μιμησαίμεθα . . ., εὐθὺς ἂν ἀπολοίμεθα” (should).

LYS. [20] 15: “πῶς ἂν οὖν οὐκ ἂν δεινὰ πάσχοιμεν;” (must）

PLATO, Apol. 28B-C: “φαῦλοι . . . ἂν τῷ γε σῷ λόγῳ εἶεν” (must, see above). Charm.161A-B: “οὐκ ἄρα σωφροσύνη ἂν εἴη αἰδώς” (can, 436). Gorg. 469 C: “εἰ δ᾽ ἀναγκαῖον εἴη ἀδικεῖν ἢ ἀδικεῖσθαι, ἑλοίμην ἂν μᾶλλον ἀδικεῖσθαι ἢ ἀδικεῖν” (should). 507 A: “καὶ μὴν ὅ γε σώφρων τὰ προσήκοντα πράττοι ἂν” (must) “καὶ περὶ θεοὺς καὶ περὶ ἀνθρώπους: οὐ γὰρ ἂν σωφρονοῖ” (can) “τὰ μὴ προσήκοντα πράττων. Ἀνάγκη ταῦτ᾽ εἶναι οὕτως”. Phaedo, 76 E (must, 440). Phaedr. 242 E: “οὐδὲν ἂν κακὸν εἴη” (sc. “ὁ Ἔρως”) (can, see above).

PHILOLAUS apud STOB. Ecl. 1.454-6: “ἀνάγκα τὰ ἐόντα εἶμεν πάντα ἢ περαίνοντα ἢ ἄπειρα, ἢ περαίνοντά τε καὶ ἄπειρα, ἄπειρα δὲ μόνον οὔ κα εἴη”. (Here “ἀνάγκα εἶμεν”, it must be, is opposed to “οὔ κα εἴη”, it cannot be.）

XEN. Conv. 6.2: “μεταξὺ τοῦ ὑμᾶς λέγειν οὐδ᾽ ἂν τρίχα μὴ ὅτι λόγον ἄν τις παρείρειε” (could). Cyr. 1.2.11: “θηρῶντες . . . οὐκ ἂν ἀριστήσειαν” (will). 1.4.28 (must, see above). 2.2.15: “ἔκ γε σοῦ πῦρ οἶμαι ῥᾷον ἄν τις ἐκτρίψειεν ἢ γέλωτα ἐξαγάγοιτο” (could or might).

HDT.3.119: “ἀνὴρ μέν μοι ἂν ἄλλος γένοιτο” (may), “εἰ δαίμων ἐθέλοι . . . πατρὸς δὲ καὶ μητρὸς οὐκέτι μευ ζωόντων ἀδελφεὸς ἂν ἄλλος οὐδενὶ τρόπῳ γένοιτο” (can). 6.63: “ἐπὶ δακτύλων συμβαλλόμενος τοὺς μῆνας, εἶπε ἀπομόσας οὐκ ἂν ἐμὸς εἴη” (can, 436). 7.162: “οὐκ ἂν φθάνοιτε τὴν ταχίστην . . . ἀπαλλασσόμενοι” (can).

AR. Ach. 403 (see above). 1055: “οὐκ ἂν ἐγχέαιμι χιλιῶν δραχμῶν” (would). Nub. 119: “οὐκ ἂν πιθοίμην” , I couldn't do it.

EUR. H. F. 97: “ἔλθοι τ᾽ ἔτ: ἂν παῖς οὑμός” (may). Ion, 543: “πῶς ἂν οὖν εἴην σός” (can, 436); 1388: “τὰ γὰρ πεπρωμέν᾽ οὐχ ὑπερβαίην ποτ᾽ ἄν” (could). 1621-2: “εἰς τέλος γὰρ οἱ μὲν ἐσθλοὶ τυγχάνουσιν ἀξίων”, | “οἱ κακοὶ δ᾽, ὥσπερ πεφύκας᾿, οὔποτ᾽ εὖ πράξειαν ἄν” (shall). fr. 206: “ὦ παῖ γένοιντ᾽ ἂν εὖ λελεγμένοι λόγοι” | “ψευδεῖς, ἐπῶν δὲ κάλλεσιν νικῷεν ἂν” | “τἀληθές” (may).

SOPH. Ai. 88: “μένοιμ᾽ ἄν” , I must stay, Jebb. 186: “ἥκοι γὰρ ἂν θεία νόσος” (must, Jebb). Ph. 20-1: “τάχ᾽ ἂν” | “ἴδοις ποτὸν κρηναῖον” (wilt, Jebb). 41-2: “πῶς γὰρ ἂν . . . προσβαίη” (could, Jebb); 103: “οὐκ ἂν λάβοις”, Thou canst not take, Jebb.

AESCHYL. P.V. 758: “ἥδοἰ ἂν οἶμαι τήνδ᾽ ἰδοῦσα συμφοράν” (would). Sept. 375: “λέγοιμ᾽ ἂν εἰδὼς εὖ τὰ τῶν ἐναντίων” (will). 397: “κόσμον μὲν ἀνδρὸς οὔτιν᾽ ἂν τρέσαιμ᾽ ἐγώ” (will).

PIND. O. 2.20: “λάθα δὲ πότμῳ σὺν εὐδαίμονι γένοιτ᾽ ἄν” (cannot fail to come). 13.103: “τά τ᾽ ἐσσόμενα τότ᾽” (when the time comes) “ἂν φαίην σαφές” (will). P. 10.62: “τυχών κεν ἁρπαλέαν σχέθοι φροντίδα τὰν πὰρ ποδός” (might). N. 10.87: “ἥμισυ μέν κε πνέοις γαίας ὑπένερθεν ἐών” (may).

HOM. Od. 19.598: “ἔνθα κε λεξαίμην” (will).

“ οἵ κεν πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοὶ
ἐν κονίῃσι πέσοιεν
”

Il. 6.452-3: