Optative
The meaning of the optative mood varies according to its context.- Optative of Wish: The optative without ἄν can be used to express a wish. Smyth 1814-1819 “ὦ παῖ, γένοιο πατρὸς εὐτυχέστερος” Soph. Aj. 550; ah, boy, mayest thou prove more fortunate than thy sire
- Potential Optative: The optative with ἄν can be used to express a future possibility. Smyth 1824-1834 “γνοίης δ᾽ ἂν ὅτι τοῦθ᾽ οὕτως ἔχει” Xen. Cyrop. 1.6.21; you may see that this is so
- Imperative Optative: The optative without ἄν can be used to express an imperative command. Smyth 1820 “Χειρίσοφος ἡγοῖτο” Xen. Anab. 3.2.37; let Chirisophus lead
- In Purpose or Final Clauses: The optative can be used in purpose clauses following verbs in secondary sequence. Smyth 2193-2196 “καὶ ἅμα ταῦτ᾽ εἰπὼν ἀνέστη ὡς μὴ μέλλοιτο ἀλλὰ περαίνοιτο τὰ δέοντα” Xen. Anab. 3.1.47; and with these words on his lips he stood up in order that what was needful might not be delayed but be done at once
- In Object Clauses of Effort: The optative with ὅπως is sometimes used following a verb of effort in place of the future indicative. Smyth 2211-2212 “ἐπεμέλετο ὅπως μήτε ἄσιτοι μήτε ἄποτοί ποτε ἔσοιντο” Xen. Cyrop. 8.1.43; he took care that they should never be without food or drink
- In Fear Clauses: The optative is used in object clauses introduced by μή following secondary verbs that signify fear. Smyth 2225-2232 “ἔδεισαν οἱ ῞ Ελληνες μὴ προσάγοιεν πρὸς τὸ κέρας καὶ . . . αὐτοὺς κατακόψειαν” Xen. Anab. 1.10.9; the Greeks were seized with fear lest they might advance against their flank and cut them down
- In Causal Clauses: Causal clauses expressing a reported cause take the optative after a secondary tense. Smyth 2240-2242 “(οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι) τὸν Περικλέα ἐκάκιζον ὅτι στρατηγὸς ὢν οὐκ ἐπεξάγοι” Thuc. 2.21; the Athenians reviled Pericles on the ground that, though he was general, he did not lead them out
- In Temporal Clauses: The optative is used without ἄν in temporal clauses referring to the future, corresponding in sense to the future less vivid condition. The negative is μή. Smyth 2404-2408 “δέοιτό γ᾽ ἂν αὐτοῦ μένειν, ἕως ἀπέλθοις” Xen. Cyrop. 5.3.13; he would beg him to remain until you should depart
- In Indirect Discourse: The optative can be used in indirect discourse introduced by ὅτι or ὡς following a verb in secondary sequence. Smyth 2614-2615 “ἔγνωσαν ὅτι κενὸς ὁ φόβος εἴη” Xen. Anab. 2.2.21; they recognized that their fear was groundless
- Past General Conditions: The optative with εἰ stands in the protasis of past general conditions. The imperfect indicative stands in the apodosis. Smyth 2340-2341 “εἰ δέ τις καὶ ἀντείποι, εὐθὺς . . . ἐτεθνήκει” Thuc. 8.66; but if any one even made an objection, he was promptly put to death
- Future Less Vivid Conditions: The optative with εἰ stands in the protasis of future less vivid conditions. The optative with ἄν stands in the apodosis. Smyth 2329-2334 “δεινὰ ἂν εἴην εἰργασμένος, . . . εἰ λίποιμι τὴν τάξιν” Plat. Apol. 28d; I should be in the state of having committed a dreadful deed, if I were to desert my post