Indicative
The indicative mood expresses simple statements or questions of fact.- Specific Indicative: The Indicative mood is used to express a fact or to ask a question anticipating a fact. Smyth 1770-1773 “ἐνταῦθ᾽ ἔμεινεν ἡμέρας πέντε” Xen. Anab. 1.2.11; He remained there for five days
- In Purpose or Final Clauses: The future indicative can be used in place of the subjunctive or optative in purpose clauses (Most common in poetry). Smyth 2203 “οὐδὲ δι᾽ ἓν ἄλλο τρέφονται ἢ ὅπως μαχοῦνται” Xen. Cyrop. 2.1.21; nor are they maintained for any other single purpose than for fighting
- In Object Clauses of Effort: The future indicative can be used in object clauses introduced by ὅπως or ὅπως μή following verbs that signify attempting or planning. Smyth 2209-2211 “ἔπρασσον ὅπως τις βοήθεια ἥξει” Thuc. 3.4 they were managing (this, that) how some reinforcements should come
- In Fear Clauses: The future indicative can sometimes be used in place of the subjunctive in object clauses introduced by ὅπως μή following verbs that signify fear of something in the future. The indicative is also used in clauses that signify fear of something in the present or the past. Smyth 2231 Dem. 9.75 “δέδοικα ὅπως μὴ . . . ἀνάγκη γενήσεται (v. l. γένηται)” I fear lest a necessity may arise
- In Causal Clauses: The indicative is used in causal clauses expressing a factual cause after both primary and secondary tenses. The negative is οὐ. Causal clauses are introduced by ὅτι, διότι, διόπερ, ἐπεί, ἐπειδή, ὅτε, ὁπότε and ὡς. Smyth 2240-2242 “ἐπεὶ δὲ ὑμεῖς οὐ βούλεσθε συμπορεύεσθαι, ἀνάγκη δή μοι ἢ ὑμᾶς προδόντα τῇ Κύρου φιλίᾳ χρῆσθαι κτλ.” Xen. Anab. 1.3.5; but since you do not wish to continue the march with me, I must either retain the friendship of Cyrus by renouncing you, etc.
- In Consecutive or Result Clauses: A result clause introduced by ὥστε expressing the idea of an actual result is expressed by the indicative. Smyth 2274-2278 “οὕτω διάκειμαι ὑφ᾽ ὑμῶν ὡστε οὐδὲ δεῖπνον ἔχω ἐν τῇ ἐμαυτοῦ χώρᾳ” Xen. Hell. 4.1.33; I am treated by you in such a manner that I cannot even sup in my own country
- In Temporal Clauses: The indicative is used in temporal clauses to denote a factual occurrence on a definite occasion in the present or the past. The negative is οὐ. Smyth 2395-2397 “ὅτε ταῦτα ἦν, σχεδὸν μέσαι ἦσαν νύκτες” Xen. Anab. 3.1.33; it was about midnight when this was taking place
- In Indirect Discourse: The indicative is used in indirect discourse introduced by ὅτι or ὡς following a verb in primary sequence. The indicative may also be retained following a verb in secondary sequence. Smyth 2614-2615 “λέγει δ᾽ ὡς ὑβριστής εἰμι” Lys. 24.15; he says that I am an insolent person
- Present Simple Conditions: The present or perfect indicative stands in the protasis of present simple conditions. The present or perfect indicative stands in the apodosis. Smyth 2298-2301 “εἰ οὖν βούλεσθε, ἔξεστιν ὑμῖν ἡμᾶς λαβεῖν ξυμμάχους” Xen. Anab. 5.4.6; If you wish, you can take us as allies
- Present Contrafactual Conditions: The imperfect indicative stands in the protasis of present contrafactual conditions. The imperfect indicative with ἄν stands in the apodosis. Smyth 2302-2312 “εἰ γὰρ ἐκήδου, ἧκες ἂν φέρων πλήρη τὸν μισθὸν” Xen. Anab. 7.5.5; If you were troubled, you would have come with full pay
- Present General Conditions: The subjunctive with ἐάν stands in the protasis of present general conditions. The present indicative stands in the apodosis Smyth 2337-2339 “ἀδικοῦντα, ἢν λάβῃς, κολάζεις;” Xen. Cyrop. 3.1.11; Do you punish a wrong-doer if you catch him?
- Past Simple Conditions: The imperfect, aorist, or pluperfect indicative stands in the protasis and apodosis of past simple conditions. Smyth 2298-2301 “εἴ τέ τι ἄλλο . . . ἐγένετο ἐπικίνδυνον τοῖς Ἕλλησι, πάντων . . . μετέσχομεν” Thuc. 3.54; and if any other danger befell the Greeks, we took our share in all
- Past Contrafactual Conditions: The aorist or imperfect indicative stands in the protasis of past contrafactual conditions. The aorist or imperfect indicative with ἄν stands in the apodosis. Smyth 2302-2312 “οὐκ ἂν ἐποίησεν Ἀγασίας ταῦτα, εἰ μὴ ἐγὼ αὐτὸν ἐκέλευσα” Xen. Anab. 6.6.15; Agasias would not have done this, if I had not commanded him
- 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 More Vivid Conditions: The subjunctive with ἐάν stands in the protasis of future more vivid conditions. The future indicative stands in the apodosis. Smyth 2323-2327 “τί ἔσται τοῖς στρατιώταις, ἐὰν αὐτῷ ταῦτα χαρίσωνται” Xen. Anab. 2.1.10; What will the soldiers have, if they oblige him in this?
- Future Most Vivid Conditions: The future indicative stands in the protasis and apodosis of future most vivid conditions. Smyth 2328 “ἀποκτενεῖς γάρ, εἴ με γῆς ἔξω βαλεῖς” Eur. Phoen. 1621; for you will slay me if you cast me out of the land