J. N. Madvig, Syntax of the Greek Language: Part II, Chapter II, The Subjunctive

Chapter II.

The Subjunctive (Conjunctive) and its Tenses.

Both in the Subjunctive and in the Optative an action or state is put as a conception presented to the speaker's mind, without his at the same time enunciating it as real: but the subjunctive denotes the thing as said in reference to present or future time, and to reality, as something demanded, or as something purposed and aimed at, or as a case of possible occurrence; whereas the optative denotes it either in reference to the past, as something that was once purposed and aimed at, or a case conceived as having occurred in the past, or also as a quite indefinite possibility (as a wish, or dubitatively with ἄν). The Greeks, however, in certain kinds of dependent propositions, not unfrequently omit to intimate the reference to the past, so that the subjunctive is put for the optative (but never conversely). In other kinds of dependent propositions, where the optative should stand, it not unfrequently happens, that the relation is left unmarked and the indicative is used.

REM. The subjunctive and optative are far from being constantly used in all sorts of dependent propositions which denote something merely conceived and thought; they are employed only where a need had been felt for denoting this, while in others the speaker, not caring to denote this, uses the indicative (see after Optative, at the end of chapter 3). In certain kinds of subordinate propositions, e.g. in object-sentences with ὅτι and ὡς, or in dependent interrogative sentences, the modification is not denoted, when they belong to a governing sentence in the present or future (they stand therefore in the indicative, not in the subjunctive); but is denoted, when the tense used in the governing sentence is a præteritum (then they stand in the optative). With less exact accuracy, and by reason of a certain liveliness in the expression, it sometimes happens, that something which is part of a conception belonging to the past, is put as part of a conception belonging to the present, and so the optative passes into the subjunctive, or (where this is not used) into the indicative, without in any remarkable way affecting the thought.

a) (352 a, b) The Subjunctive in the first person (in the singular not usually without a preceding φέρε or ἄγε) is used in exhortation and demand, affirmatively, or with the negation μή. Ἴωμεν. Μὴ φοβώμεθα. Φέρε δή, τὰς μαρτυρίας ὑμῖν ἀναγνῶ (Dem. 18, 267). Φέρε δὴ καὶ ὅσους αὐτὸς ἐλυσάμην τῶν αἰχμαλώτων, εἴπω πρὸς ὑμᾶς (Dem. 19, 169).

b) In the second and third person, the aorist of the subjunctive stands with μή in prohibitions: Μὴ ποιήσῃς τοῦτο. See Imperative, § 142.

REM. Rarely, and poetically, μή is used with the first person, in praying that something may not befall the speaker: Ἀλλά μ’ ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς πόρθμευσον ὡς τάχιστα μηδ’ αὐτοῦ θανῶ (Soph. Trach. 801).

[Subj. dubitativus.] (351) The subjunctive is used in simple interrogations or in doubting questions (expressive of disapprobation, displeasure, denial), of that which shall come to pass, is to be done (what one is challenged to do, what one is required to do by the will of another, what can and shall be done), both when they are direct, and when they are dependent on a leading verb in the present or future [1]: Τί φῶ; τί δρῶ; Πῶς οὖν δὴ περὶ αὐτῶν τούτων λέγωμεν καὶ πῶς ποιῶμεν; (Pl. Phil. 63.) Δοκεῖ χρῆναι, ὦ Ἐρυξίμαχε; ἐπιθῶμαι τῷ ἀνδρὶ καὶ τιμωρήσωμαι ὑμῶν ἐναντίον; (Pl. Conv. 214.) Δέξεσθε ἡμᾶς ἢ ἀπίωμεν; (Pl. Conv. 212. Will ye receive us, or are we to go away?) Ἵνα οὖν τριάκοντα ἄνθρωποι λειτουργήσωσιν ἡμῖν, τοὺς ἅπαντας ἀπίστως πρὸς ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς διαθῶμεν; (Dem. 20, 22.) Ἆρα, ἔφη ὁ Σωκράτης, μὴ αἰσχυνθῶμεν τὸν Περσῶν βασιλέα μιμήσασθαι; (Xen. Œcon. 4, 4.) Πόθεν οὖν τις ἄρξηται, πολλῆς οὔσης περὶ τὰ ἀμφιςβητούμενα μάχης; (Pl. Phil. 15.) Τίνος ἕνεκα ἐφ’ ἡμῶν πρῶτον καταδειχθῇ τοιοῦτον ἔργον; (Dem. 20, 117; why is such a deed to be done for the first time in our days?) -- Ἀπορῶ, τήν τ’ ἀδελφὴν ὅπως ἐκδῶ καὶ τἆλλ’ ὁπόθεν διοικῶ (Dem. 27, 66). Βουλεύομαι, πῶς σε ἀποδρῶ (Xen. Cyr. 1, 4, 13). Οὐκ ἔχω, ὅπως σοι εἴπω ἃ νοῶ (Pl. Euthyph. 11). Οἱ κάπηλοι φροντίζουσιν, ὅ,τι ἐλάττονος πριάμενοι πλείονος ἀποδῶνται (Xen. Mem. 3, 7, 6). Τὰ ἐκπώματα οὐκ οἶδ’ εἰ Χρυσάντα τούτῳ δῶ, ἐπεὶ καὶ τὴν ἕδραν σου ὑφήρπασεν (Xen. Cyr. 8, 4, 16). (Ἔχω and οὐκ ἔχω ὅ,τι (ὅ) with the subjunctive often occur in the sense, have something (nothing) to --: Οὐδὲν Σωκράτει διοίσει, ἐὰν μόνον ἔχῃ, ὅτῳ διαλέγηται (Pl. Conv. 194; somebody to converse with). Ἑκάτεροι ἔχουσιν ἐφ’ οἷς φιλοτιμηθῶσιν. Isocr. Paneg. 44.)

[1]: Viz. regularly; of the subjunctive instead of the optative after a leading verb in a præteritum (§ 119, R.), see Optative, § 130 b, and also the following §§.

REM. 1. When the speaker is less concerned to mark the notion of requirement (the is to be), it is not unfrequently omitted, and such a question, whether direct or indirect, is put in the indicative future (as a question what will happen): Τί οὖν ποιήσομεν; πότερον εἰς τὴν πόλιν πάντας τούτους παραδεξόμεθα ἢ τοὺς μέν, τοὺς δ’ οὔ; (Pl. Rep. 3, 397.) Ἆρ’ οὖν θησόμεθα νόμον διὰ ταῦτα μηδὲ τὸ λοιπὸν ἐξεῖναι τῇ βουλῇ μηδὲ τῷ δήμῳ μήτε προβουλεύειν μήτε χειροτονεῖν μηδέν; (Dem. 20, 4; shall we make a law?) Οὐκ ἔχετε, οἶμαι, ὅ,τι ποιήσετε (Dem. 8, 32). Hence the phrase is either, οὐκ ἔχω, ὅ,τι χρήσωμαι τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ, τῷ ἀργυρίῳ (what to do with --), or, sometimes χρήσομαι. (Εἴπωμεν ἢ σιγῶμεν, ἢ τί δράσομεν; Eur. Ion, 758. Ἁμιλλῶνται, ὁπότεροι φθήσονται τὴν πόλιν ἀγαθόν τι ποιήσαντες, Isocr. Paneg. 79.)

REM. 2. In deliberating with oneself or others what to do (say, think) now immediately, the question is sometimes put in the first person of the present indicative: Πῶς οὖν, ὦ Ἀλκιβιάδη, ποιοῦμεν; οὕτως οὔτε τι λέγομεν ἐπὶ τῇ κύλικι οὔτ’ ἐπᾴδομεν, ἀλλ’ ἀτεχνῶς ὥςπερ οἱ διψῶντες πιόμεθα; (Pl. Conv. 214. What do we then, Alcibiades? Directly afterwards we have Ἀλλὰ τί ποιῶμεν;)

REM. 3. Of the dubitative question in the optative with ἄν, see Optative, § 136.

(355) The subjunctive stands in propositions of intention (final sentences) with the conjunctions ἵνα, ὡς (poet. ὄφρα), ὅπως, in order that (ἵνα μή, ὡς μή, ὅπως μή, sometimes simply μή, that not; lest) after a governing verb in the present or future. Ὡς and ὅπως in this sense sometimes take ἄν, never ἵνα or the simple μή [1]. Ὅπως (without ἄν) and ὅπως μή, however, sometimes take, instead of the aor. 1 of the subjunctive, the future indicative, whereby the thing intended, is brought out more independently, as a thing that will occur. (See note at end of following §.) Βασιλεὺς αἱρεῖται, οὐχ ἵνα ἑαυτοῦ καλῶς ἐπιμελῆται, ἀλλ’ ἵνα καὶ οἱ ἑλόμενοι δι’ αὐτὸν εὖ πράττωσιν (Xen. Mem. 3, 2, 3). Δοκεῖ μοι κατακαῦσαι τὰς ἁμάξας, ἃς ἔχομεν, ἵνα μὴ τὰ ζεύγη ἡμῶν στρατηγῇ, ἀλλὰ τραπώμεθα, ὅπῃ ἂν τῇ στρατιᾷ συμφέρῃ (Xen. An. 3, 2, 27). Τισσαφέρνης διανοεῖται τὴν γέφυραν λῦσαι τῆς νυκτός, ὡς μὴ διαβῆτε, ἀλλ’ ἐν μέσῳ ἀποληφθῆτε τοῦ ποταμοῦ καὶ τῆς διώρυχος (Xen. An. 2, 4, 17). Εἰς καιρὸν ἥκεις, ὅπως τῆς δίκης ἀκούσῃς παρὼν τῆς ἀμφὶ τοῦ πατρός (Xen. Cyr. 3, 1, 8). Ἐάν τίς σοι κάμνῃ τῶν οἰκετῶν, παρακαλεῖς ἰατρούς, ὅπως μὴ ἀποθάνῃ (Xen. Mem. 2, 10, 2). Ταῦτα γίγνεται, οὐχ ὅπως τοὺς αὐτοὺς αὐλητὰς ἐπαινῶσιν οἱ πολῖται οὐδ’ ὅπως τοὺς αὐτοὺς ποιητὰς αἱρῶνται, οὐδ’ ἵνα τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἥδωνται, ἀλλ’ ἵνα τοῖς νόμοις πείθωνται (Xen. Mem. 4, 4, 16). Σύ, ὦ παῖ, ἂν σωφρονῇς, τοὺς θεοὺς παραιτήσῃ συγγνώμονάς σοι εἶναι, εἴ τι παρημέληκας τῆς μητρός, μή σε καὶ οὗτοι νομίσαντες ἀχάριστον εἶναι οὐκ ἐθέλωσιν εὖ ποιεῖν (Xen. Mem. 2, 2, 14). -- Τουτὶ λαβών μου τὸ σκιάδειον ὑπέρεχε ἄνωθεν, ὡς ἂν μή μ’ ὁρῶσιν οἱ θεοί (Arist. Aves 1509). [2] Ὁ τύραννος πολέμους τινὰς ἀεὶ κινεῖ, ἵν’ ἐν χρείᾳ ἡγεμόνος ὁ δῆμος ᾖ καὶ, ἐάν τινας ὑποπτεύῃ ἐλεύθερα φρονήματα ἔχοντας μὴ ἐπιτρέψειν αὐτῷ ἄρχειν, ὅπως ἂν τούτους μετὰ προφάσεως ἀπολλύῃ, ἐνδοὺς τοῖς πολεμίοις (Pl. Rep. 8, 567). -- Οἱ σύμμαχοι οὐδὲ δι’ ἓν ἄλλο τρέφονται ἢ ὅπως μαχοῦνται ὑπὲρ τῶν τρεφόντων (Xen. Cyr. 2, 1, 21). Χρὴ ἀναβιβάζειν ἐπὶ τὸν τροχὸν τοὺς ἀναγραφέντας (to put the persons denounced upon the rack), ὅπως μὴ πρότερον νὺξ ἔσται πρὶν πυθέσθαι τοὺς ἄνδρας ἅπαντας (Andoc. 1, 43).

[1]: Where ἵνα ἄν occurs, ἵνα means where. With ὡς and ὅπως, ἄν effects no perceptible change of meaning. [But Hermann, ὡς, or ὅπως, ἂν ἔλθω, ut veniam si forte venias; that, if so be, may come. T. K. A. -- Rather (comp. Particles, § 302), the ἄν denotes that the thing intended will ensue -- ὅπως ἔλθω, that I may come, such being the intention whether realized or not; but ὅπως ἂν ἔλθω, THAT I may come, as, in the case supposed, I shall: almost = so shall I come. So in the place cited, Aristoph. Av. 1509, ὡς ἂν μή μ’ ὁρῶσιν οἱ θεοί, so shall the gods not see me. H. B.]

[2]: ὡς ἂν μὴ μ’ ὁρῶσιν οἱ θεοί, that, as far as this goes, the gods see me not -- so shall the gods not see me; without ἄν, merely to the intent that they, &c.

(354, 372) The subjunctive stands in object-sentences annexed by ὅπως or ὅπως μή to the present or future of verbs or phrases denoting, to endeavour (to take care, to work upon others) that something may, or may not, be done (as ἐπιμελεῖσθαι, σπουδάζειν, παρασκευάζειν, πράττειν, μηχανᾶσθαι, παραγγέλλειν, πρόνοιαν ἔχειν, περὶ πολλοῦ ποιεῖσθαι, πρὸς τοῦτο τὸν νοῦν ἔχειν, &c.). But the future indicative is also used, in order to mark the object prominently as something that will occur, or as a state that continues in the future, and this is the most usual form; somewhat less frequent the subjunctive of the present and aor. 2, while that of the aor. 1 active and middle is even very rare in object-sentences with ὅπως. Now and then ἄν is added to ὅπως, and then always the subjunctive: Ἄλλου του ἄρα ἐπιμελήσει ἡμῖν ἐλθὼν ἐπὶ τὰ τῆς πόλεως πράγματα ἢ ὅπως ὅτι βέλτιστοι οἱ πολῖται ὦμεν; (Pl. Gorg. 515.) Σεύθης κελεύει Ξενοφῶντα προθυμεῖσθαι, ὅπως διαβῇ τὸ στράτευμα (Xen. An. 7, 1, 5). Εἴ τις σοι τῶν γνωρίμων κινδυνεύει δι’ ἔνδειαν ἀπολέσθαι, οὐκ οἴει σοι ἄξιον εἶναι ἐπιμεληθῆναι, ὅπως διασωθῇ; (Xen. Mem. 2, 10, 2.) Φίλιππος ὠνεῖται παρὰ τῶν πρέσβεων, ὅπως μὴ ἀπίωμεν ἐκ Μακεδονίας (Dem. 18, 32). -- Ὥςπερ τὸν ποιμένα δεῖ ἐπιμελεῖσθαι, ὅπως σῶαί τε ἔσονται αἱ οἶες καὶ τὰ ἐπιτήδεια ἕξουσιν, οὕτω καὶ τὸν στρατηγὸν ἐπιμελεῖσθαι δεῖ, ὅπως σῶοί τε οἱ στρατιῶται ἔσονται καὶ τὰ ἐπιτήδεια ἕξουσιν (Xen. Mem. 3, 2, 1). Καλὸν παρασκευάζειν, ὅπως ὡς βέλτισται ἔσονται τῶν πολιτῶν αἱ ψυχαί (Pl. Gorg. 503). Οὐ μικρὰν πρόνοιαν ἔχειν δεῖ, ὅπως κύριος ἔσται ὁ νόμος καὶ μήτε συγχυθήσεται μήτ’ αὖ μεταποιηθήσεται (Dem. 23, 62). Τί μάλιστα ἐν ἅπασι διεσπούδασται τοῖς νόμοις; Ὅπως μὴ γενήσονται οἱ περὶ ἀλλήλους φόνοι (Dem. 20, 157). [1] -- Οἱ ναῦται τῷ ναυκλήρῳ περικέχυνται δεόμενοι καὶ πάντα ποιοῦντες, ὅπως ἄν σφισι τὸ πηδάλιον ἐπιτρέψῃ (Pl. Rep. 6, 488). (Εἰ τὸν ἐχθρὸν κακῶς ποιητέον ἐστίν, κακὸν δὲ μέγιστον αὐτὴ ἡ ἀδικία ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ ἐνοῦσα μηδὲ τιμωρίᾳ ἐκκαθαιρομένη, ἐάν τινα ἀδικῇ ὁ ἐχθρός, παντὶ τρόπῳ παρασκευαστέον, ὅπως μηδὲ ἔλθῃ παρὰ τὸν δικαστήν· ἐὰν δὲ ἔλθῃ, μηχανητέον, ὅπως ἂν διαφύγῃ καὶ μὴ δῷ δίκην, ἀλλ’, ἐάν τε χρυσίον ἡρπακὼς ᾖ πολύ, μὴ ἀποδιδῷ τοῦτο ἀλλ’ ἔχων ἀναλίσκῃ ἀδίκως καὶ ἀθέως, ἐάν τε αὖ θανάτου ἄξια ἠδικηκὼς ᾖ, ὅπως μὴ ἀποθανεῖται, μάλιστα μὲν μηδέποτε ἀλλ’ ἀθάνατος ἔσται πονηρὸς ὤν, εἰ δὲ μή, ὅπως ὡς πλεῖστον χρόνον βιώσεται, Pl. Gorg. 480.)

[1]: Σινωπεῖς Τιμασίωνα κελεύουσι προστατεῦσαι, ὅπως ἐκπλεύσῃ ἡ στρατιά (Xen. An. 5, 6, 21).

REM. 1. Ὅπως is originally an interrogative particle (how), in which signification it is frequently used. Verbs like σκοπεῖν, βουλεύεσθαι, &c., denote therefore, in the first instance: to consider how a thing may be done (as intention), in which sense the fut. indic. is exclusively used (Ἀνάγκη σκοπεῖν, ὅπως τὰ πράγματα σωθήσεται, Dem. 9, 63. Τιμοκράτης τοῖς πονηροῖς, ὅπως μὴ δώσουσι δίκην, ὁδὸν δείκνυσιν, Dem. 24, 106); consequently, at the same time, to take measures that it may be done, in which sense the subjunctive may also be used. (Οὐ μόνον ψηφίζεσθαι τὴν εἰρήνην δεῖ, ἀλλὰ καὶ βουλεύεσθαι, ὅπως ἄξομεν αὐτὴν καὶ μὴ πάλιν εἰς τὰς αὐτὰς καταστησόμεθα ταραχάς, Isocr. de Pac. 25. Τοῦτό μοι δοκεῖ σκεπτέον εἶναι, ὅπως ὡς ἐλάχιστα μὲν τραύματα λάβωμεν, ὡς ἐλάχιστα δὲ σώματα ἀνδρῶν ἀποβάλωμεν, Xen. An. 4, 6, 10. Σκοπεῖ, ὅπως μὴ ἔξαρνος ἔσει ἃ νῦν λέγεις, Pl. Euthyd. 283.) [1]

[1]: Cf. Σκοποῦσιν, ἐξ ὅτου τρόπου οἱ Μεγαλοπολῖται φίλοι ὑμῖν μὴ γενήσονται (Dem. 16, 19; shall be hindered that they may not become --). Ἀριστεὺς ἔπρασσε, ὅπῃ ὠφέλειά τις γενήσεται (Thuc. 1, 65; negotiated how succour should come).

Then it comes to be used with all verbs which denote an endeavouring and an acting in order to a purpose, with loss of the interrogative sense, and consequently with mixed construction, rarely with aor. 1, which so much resembles the future. Lastly, it also denotes merely the intention (§ 122), in which sense the subjunctive predominates, and the fut. indic. is more rare.

REM. 2. This construction of ὅπως must be kept quite distinct from the relative ὅπως in the expression οὐκ ἔστιν ὅπως, there is no way in which --, it is not possible that (§ 102, b. R. 2), which never has the subjunctive.

REM. 3. After verbs like σκοπῶ, βουλεύομαι, &c., there may also be attached by ὅπως a dependent interrogative sentence with (potential) optative and ἄν (see § 137), of that which may probably take place: Σκοπῶ, ὅπως ἂν ὁ μὲν παῖς ὅδε ὁ σὸς καὶ ἡ παῖς ἥδε ὡς ῥᾷστα διάγοιεν, ἡμεῖς δ’ ἂν μάλιστα εὐφραινοίμεθα θεώμενοι αὐτούς (Xen. Conv. 2).

REM. 4. Elliptically ὅπως, ὅπως μή, μηδείς, etc. stand often with the second, more rarely with the third or first person of the fut. indic. to denote a command, a prohibition, instead of the imperative (see to it, that): Ὅπως οὖν ἔσεσθε ἄνδρες ἄξιοι τῆς ἐλευθερίας, ἣν κέκτησθε (Xen. An. 1, 7, 3). Ὅπως ἐπέξει τῷ μιαρῷ καὶ μὴ διαλύσῃ (Dem. 21, 216. Prosecute the rascal, and make no terms [2]). Ὅπως τοίνυν περὶ τοῦ πολέμου μηδὲν ἐρεῖς· οὐδεὶς γὰρ οὐδὲν αἰτιᾶται περὶ αὐτοῦ σε (Dem. 19, 92). (Τούτοις ἐγὼ ἀποκρινοῦμαι καθ’ ἕκαστον ἀκριβῶς· καὶ ὅπως, ὥσπερ ἐρωτῶσι προθύμως, οὕτω καὶ ποιεῖν ἐθελήσουσιν, Dem. 8, 38. Ὅπως δὲ τὸ σύμβολον λαβόντες ἔπειτα πλησίον καθεδούμεθα, Arist. Eccl. 297.) (The aorist subjunctive only in uncertain passages.) (Of another elliptic use of ὅπως μή, see § 124, b. R. 1.)

[2]: The present of εἶμι is treated as future.

REM. 5. After βούλει, βούλεσθε (mostly interrogative) the aorist subjunctive is used with ὅπως omitted (never the fut. indic.): Βούλεσθ’ οὖν ὑμῖν αὐτοὺς παρασχῶμαι μάρτυρας τουτουσί, ὅτι πάντα τἀναντία ἐμοὶ καὶ τούτοις πέπρακται; (Dem. 19, 205.)

REM. 6. Rarely ὡς for ὅπως in object-sentences: Οἱ μὲν τούτου ἐπιμελοῦνται, ὡς ἔχῃ οὕτως, οἱ δὲ οὐκ ἐπιμελοῦνται (Xen. Œcon. 20, 8).

a) (354, 376) The subjunctive stands in propositions with μή after verbs and phrases denoting fear and apprehension (δέδοικα, φοβοῦμαι, ὀκνῶ, φροντίζω, οὐδὲν δεινόν, there is no danger of, &c.), or taking heed and precautions against (φυλάττομαι, εὐλαβοῦμαι, ὁρῶ, σκοπῶ), to denote that of which one is afraid, or against which one is on his guard (ne; μὴ οὐ, ne non): ὁρῶ and σκοπῶ, μή often merely denotes a suspicion or surmise (see whether -- not). Of a fear, in reference to the past, μή is mostly used with the perfect indicative: Δέδοικα, μὴ ἐπιλαθώμεθα τῆς οἴκαδε ὁδοῦ (Xen. An. 3, 2, 25). Φροντίζω, μὴ κράτιστον ᾖ μοι σιγᾶν· κινδυνεύω γὰρ ἁπλῶς οὐδὲν εἰδέναι (Xen. Mem. 4, 2, 39). Τὰ περὶ τῆς ψυχῆς πολλὴν ἀπιστίαν (mistrust and fear) παρέχει τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, μή, ἐπειδὰν ἀπαλλαγῇ τοῦ σώματος, οὐδαμοῦ ἔτι ᾖ ἀλλ’ ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ διαφθείρηται καὶ ἀπολλύηται, ᾗ ἂν ἄνθρωπος ἀποθάνῃ (Pl. Phæd. 70). Τῶν φυλάκων ἐν ἑαυτοῖς μὴ στασιαζόντων, οὐδὲν δέος, μήποτε ἡ ἄλλη πόλις πρὸς τούτους διχοστατήσῃ (Pl. Phæd. 465). Εὐθύδημος φυλάττεται, μὴ δόξῃ τὸν Σωκράτην θαυμάζειν ἐπὶ σοφίᾳ (Xen. Mem. 4, 2, 3). Ὅρα οὖν, μή τι καὶ νῦν Ἀλκιβιάδης ἐργάσηται (Pl. Conv. 213). -- Φοβούμεθα, μὴ ἀμφοτέρων ἡμαρτήκαμεν (Thuc. 3, 53).

REM. 1. Now and then μή with the future indicative stands after verbs denoting a fear, to express rather a mere suspicion of what will happen, and to give prominence to the notion of futurity: Φοβούμαι, μή τινας ἡδονὰς ἡδοναῖς εὑρήσομεν ἐναντίας (Pl. Phil. 13). Εἰ μαθήσονται οἱ πολέμιοι, χωρὶς γενόμενοι οἱ μὲν κατὰ πρόςωπον ἡμῖν, ὥςπερ νῦν, ἐναντιοῦσθαι, αἱ δ’ ἐκ πλαγίου, αἱ δὲ καὶ ὄπισθεν, ὅρα, μὴ πολλῶν ἑκάστῳ ἡμῶν καὶ ὀφθαλμῶν καὶ χειρῶν δεήσει (Xen. Cyr. 4, 1, 18). Also μή after ὁρῶ stands with the pres. indic. as a merely interrogative particle (whether): Ὁρῶμεν, μὴ Νικίας οἴεταί τι λέγειν καὶ οὐ λόγου ἕνεκα ταῦτα λέγει (Pl. Lach. 196).

REM. 2. Μή stands elliptically with the pres. subjunctive to express a fear, or usually merely a suspicion (if only -- not; I fear that): Μὴ ἀγροικότερον ᾖ τὸ ἀληθὲς εἰπεῖν· ὀκνῶ γὰρ Γοργίου ἕνεκα λέγειν (Pl. Gorg. 462). Ἀλλὰ μὴ οὐ τοῦτ’ ᾖ χαλεπόν, θάνατον ἐκφυγεῖν, ἀλλὰ πολὺ χαλεπώτερον, πονηρίαν· θᾶττον γὰρ θανάτου θεῖ (Pl. Apol. 39. I fear the difficulty is not --). Ἀλλὰ μὴ οὐχ οὕτως ἔχῃ, ὦ Σώκρατες, ἀλλ’ ἀναγκαῖον ἢ εἰδότα τίθεσθαι τὸν τιθέμενον τὰ ὀνόματα (Pl. Crat. 436; that he who gave the names must have given them after knowledge of the things). See b. REM.

REM. 3. From putting οὐκ (οὐδείς, οὐκέτι, οὔκουν) before the elliptic μή (μήποτε) with the subjunctive, there results the denial of a fear (I am not afraid that = οὐδὲν δεινόν, μή, there is no danger, no fear, that --, or, of --), which is frequently used merely as a strong denial of the thing itself; a future with strong negation. Instead of the aor. subjunct. sometimes (cf. R. 1) the fut. indic. is used without perceptible difference of meaning: Ἐπὶ τούτου τοῦ ἵππου καὶ διώκων, ὃν ἂν θέλῃς, αἱρήσεις καὶ ἀποχωρῶν οὐ μὴ δείσῃς τὸν πολέμιον (Xen. An. 7, 3, 26). Σωκράτης, ὁπόσον ἂν κελεύῃ τις, ἐκπιὼν οὐδὲν μᾶλλον μήποτε μεθυσθῇ (Pl. Conv. 214). Ἐὰν ἀπογνῶτε τὴν γραφὴν ταύτην, ἅπαντές εἰσιν ἀπηλλαγμένοι καὶ δίκην οὐδεὶς οὐδεμίαν μὴ δῷ (Dem. 22, 39). -- Τοιούτου ἐστέρημαι ἐπιτηδείου, οἷον οὐδένα μήποτε εὑρήσω (Pl. Crit. 44). Καλλικρατίδας εἶπεν, ὅτι ἡ Σπάρτη οὐδὲν μὴ κάκιον οἰκιεῖται αὐτοῦ ἀποθανόντος, φεύγειν δ’ αἰσχρὸν εἶναι ἔφη (Xen. Hell. 1, 6, 32).

REM. 4. From the use of οὐ μή, explained in the preceding remark, we must carefully distinguish the use of οὐ μή, with the second person of the fut. indic. (never the subjunctive) in questions expressive of a peremptory and vehement prohibition, the μή with the verb forming a negative notion (wilt thou not give over doing it --? wilt thou not not-do it?). A positive command, in the shape of a question, may precede with simple οὐ, or follow with ἀλλά: Οὐ μὴ ληρήσεις; (Arist. Nub. 367.) Οὔκουν καλεῖς αὐτὸν καὶ μὴ ἀφήσεις; (Pl. Conv. 175. Wilt thou not call him, and not let him go? = call him, do, and don't let him go!) Οὐ μὴ λαλήσεις ἀλλ’ ἀκολουθήσεις ἐμοὶ ἀνύσας τι δευρὶ θᾶττον; (Arist. Nub. 505.)

b) Instead of μή, verbs denoting to fear, be apprehensive, beware, take care, take also ὅπως μή with the subjunct. or indic. fut. by § 123. Likewise ὅπως μή is put after verbs denoting a prohibition (ἀπαγορεύω). Οὐ φοβεῖ, δικαζόμενος τῷ πατρί, ὅπως μὴ ἀνόσιον πρᾶγμα τυγχάνῃς πράττων; (Pl. Euthyph. 4.) Φυλάττου, ὅπως μὴ τοῦ εὐδοξεῖν ἐπιθυμῶν εἰς τοὐναντίον ἔλθῃς (Xen. Mem. 3, 6, 16). Δέδοικα, ὅπως μὴ πάνθ’ ἅμα, ὅσα οὐ βουλόμεθα, ποιεῖν ἡμῖν ἀνάγκη γενήσεται (Dem. 9, 75). Εὐλαβεῖσθε, ὅπως μὴ ἐγὼ ὑπὸ προθυμίας ἅμα ἐμαυτόν τε καὶ ὑμᾶς ἐξαπατήσας οἰχήσομαι (Pl. Phæd. 91). Ἀπείρηταί μοι, ὅπως μηδὲν ἐρῶ ὧν ἡγοῦμαι (Pl. Rep. 1, 337).

REM. 1. Ὅπως μή is often put elliptically (see a. R. 2) with the fut. indic. (hardly the subjunctive) in the sense, see to it that -- not: Εἰ τῶν διωκόντων καὶ κατακαινόντων τοὺς ἡμετέρους πολεμίους δόξομεν ἀμελεῖν, ὅπως μὴ αἰσχροὶ μὲν φανούμεθα, ἀσθενεῖς δ’ ἐσόμεθα, συμμάχων ἀποροῦντες (Xen. Cyr. 4, 2, 39; it is to be feared we shall --). Ὅπως μὴ ἀπολεῖ μαστιγούμενος, ἐπειδὰν οἴκοι ᾖς (Xen. Cyr. 1, 3, 18). Οἴμοι τάλας, ὁ Ζεὺς ὅπως μή μ’ ὄψεται (Arist. Aves 1494). With the indic. of a preterite by a: Ἀλλ’ ὅπως μὴν τοῖς τρίβωσιν ἐγκάθηνται οἱ λίθοι (Arist. Ach. 343).

REM. 2. Verbs denoting a fear rarely take ὡς (with the indic., as after the verbs denoting to think, be of opinion): Μὴ δείσητε ὡς οὐχ ἡδέως καθευδήσετε (Xen. Cyr. 6, 2, 30).

REM. 3. (To § 123 and 124.) On the mood in object-sentences after a præteritum, see Optative, § 131.

The subjunctive is used in conditional sentences with ἐάν (ἤν, ἄν, from εἰ ἄν), which are only used of that which is possible now or at a future time: Ἅπας λόγος, ἂν ἀπῇ τὰ πράγματα, μάταιόν τι φαίνεται καὶ κενόν (Dem. 2, 12). Ἤν τις ἀνθιστῆται, πειρασόμεθα χειροῦσθαι (Xen. An. 7, 3, 11).

REM. 1. Ἐάν carries with it in a more marked way than εἰ, the notion that the supposition is an indefinite, single case, of (merely) possible occurrence [1]: if = should it turn out to be the fact that; but the difference is sometimes scarcely perceptible: Ἐὰν μὲν οὖν (ὁ Ἄφοβος) ἀργὸν φῇ γενέσθαι τὸ ἐργαστήριον, λόγον αὐτὸς ἀπενήνοχεν ἀναλωμάτων εἰς ἔργα· εἰ δ’ αὖ γενέσθαι ἐργασίαν φήσει, τῶν δ’ ἔργων ἀπρασίαν εἶναι, δεῖ δήπου τὰ γ’ ἔργα αὐτὸν ἀποδεδωκότα φαίνεσθαι (Dem. 27, 20).

[1]: [According to Buttmann, ἐάν puts the case as uncertain, but possible, and to be determined by subsequent experience. -- T. K. A.]

REM. 2. In the Ionic and Doric poets the subjunctive sometimes follows εἰ without ἄν (κέν): in the Attic poets (except in the Choral Odes), or in prose (except in the archaic phraseology of law) there are no sure examples of this.

The subjunctive stands with relative words (pronouns, adjectives, adverbs) which take ἄν (ὃς ἄν, ὅςτις ἄν, οἷος ἄν, ὅσος ἄν, ὡς ἄν, ὅπου ἄν, &c.). Hereby, in reference to the present or future, an individual contingency among several that are possible, is put more prominently than by the simple relative (whoever, whosoever; such ... as). Συμμαχεῖν τούτοις ἐθέλουσιν ἅπαντες, οὓς ἂν ὁρῶσι παρεσκευασμένους καὶ πράττειν ἐθέλοντας ἃ χρή (Dem. 4, 6). Οἱ ἄνθρωποι, ἐν ᾧ ἂν (so long as) πολεμῶσι, τὸν παρόντα πόλεμον ἀεὶ μέγιστον κρίνουσιν (Thuc. 1, 21). Ἅττ’ ἄν σοι λογιζομένῳ φαίνηται βέλτιστα, ταῦτα τοῖς ἔργοις ἐπιτέλει (Isocr. de Nic. 38). Ὅσῳ ἂν ἀκριβέστερον τὰ πεπραγμένα μάθητε, τοσούτῳ δικαιοτέραν θήσεσθε τὴν ψῆφον (Dem. 29, 4). Ἕπεσθε ὅπῃ ἄν τις ἡγῆται, κόσμον καὶ φυλακὴν περὶ παντὸς ποιούμενοι (Thuc. 2, 11).

REM. 1. Often the difference between ὅς and ὃς ἄν is very small: Αἰτία ἐστίν, ὅταν τις ψιλῷ χρησάμενος λόγῳ μὴ παράσχηται πίστιν, ὧν λέγει, ἔλεγχος δέ, ὅταν, ὧν ἂν εἴπῃ τις, καὶ τἀληθὲς ὁμοῦ δείξῃ (Dem. 22, 22).

REM. 2. In the poets this subjunctive is found with the relative put indefinitely, even without ἄν; e.g. Γέροντα δ’ ὀρθοῦν φλαῦρον, ὃς νέος πέσῃ (Soph. Œd. C. 395; to raise up when old one who fell when young).

REM. 3. Quite distinct from this use of the subjunctive after the relative with ἄν (belonging to the relative) is the potential optative with ἄν (§ 137), or the hypothetical indicative with ἄν (§ 117, b) in a relative sentence: Ἄρξομαι ἐντεῦθεν, ὅθεν καὶ ὑμεῖς ῥᾷστ’ ἂν μάθοιτε κἀγὼ τάχιστ’ ἂν διδάξαιμι (Dem. 29, 5; from the point, from which you may most easily apprehend, and I most speedily unfold the matter).

The subjunctive stands with all conjunctions of time to which ἄν is annexed (ὅταν, ὁπόταν, ἐπειδάν, ἐπάν, ἡνίκ’ ἄν, ἕως ἄν, ἔστ’ ἄν, μέχρις ἄν, μέχρι οὗ ἄν, πρὶν ἄν); they serve to denote the indefinite point of time, and contingency in the present or future: Τοῦτο καὶ νῦν ποιοῦσιν οἱ βάρβαροι βασιλεῖς, ὁπόταν (whenever; when) στρατοπεδεύωνται· τάφρον περιβάλλονται εὐπετῶς διὰ τὴν πολυχειρίαν (Xen. Cyr. 3, 3, 26). Ἕως ἂν (so long as) σώζηται τὸ σκάφος, τότε χρὴ καὶ ναύτην καὶ κυβερνήτην καὶ πάντ’ ἄνδρα ἑξῆς προθύμους εἶναι· ἐπειδὰν δὲ ἡ θάλαττα ὑπέρσχῃ, μάταιος ἡ σπουδή (Dem. 9, 69). Νῦν μὲν ἄπειμι ὡς βασιλέα· ἐπειδὰν δὲ διαπράξωμαι, ἃ δέομαι, ἥξω ἀπάξων ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Ἑλλάδα (Xen. An. 2, 3, 29). Οὐκ ἀναμένομεν, ἕως ἂν (till) ἡ ἡμετέρα χώρα κακῶται, ἀλλὰ φθάνοντες ἤδη δῃοῦμεν τὴν τῶν πολεμίων γῆν (Xen. Cyr. 3, 3, 18). Σπονδαὶ ἔσονται, μέχρις ἂν βασιλεῖ τὰ παρ’ ὑμῶν διαγγελθῇ (Xen. An. 2, 3, 7). Ἐὰν φαίνωμαι ἀδικεῖν, οὐ χρή μ’ ἐνθένδε ἀπελθεῖν, πρὶν ἂν δῶ δίκην (Xen. An. 5, 7, 5).

REM. 1. Without ἄν these conjunctions stand with the indicative, partly to denote the definite present time (Ἕως ἔτι νέος εἰμί, τὴν ψυχὴν γυμνάζω. Ἐν μὲν τῷ στρατοπέδῳ οἱ ἄρχοντες περιεώρων Ἀλκιβιάδην ὑπὸ πάντων προπηλακιζόμενον, ἐπειδὴ δὲ ὑμᾶς δεῖ παρ’ αὐτοῦ δίκην λαμβάνειν, χαριζόμενοι αὐτῷ ψευδομαρτυροῦσιν, Lys. 15, 6; also ἐπεί, ἐπειδή, ὅτε, ὁπότε, in causal signification: since, whereas); partly to denote a past time. Of πρίν with the infinitive, and its difference from (οὐ --) πρὶν ἄν, see Infinitive, § 167.

REM. 2. Πρίν, μέχρι, ἕως, ἔστε sometimes in the poets take the subjunctive without ἄν (Μὴ στέναζε, πρὶν μάθῃς, Soph. Phil. 917): πρίν and μέχρι (μέχρι οὗ) also in some individual passages of prose writers; e.g. Οὐ πρότερον αὑτὸν ἀποκτιννύναι δεῖ, πρὶν ἀνάγκην τινὰ ὁ θεὸς ἐπιπέμψῃ (Pl. Phæd. 62). (Ὅτε and ἐπεί only in Ionic poets; ἐπεί τε in Hdt.)

REM. 3. (to § 125--127). On the mood, in sentences of the kind here spoken of in the oratio obliqua, after a præteritum, see Optative, § 132.