21st Century Classical Greek -- syntax particles

Now we have a problem. I’ve just discussed the only three conjugated verbs in this entire first subsection, which has 50 words. To make the problem clearer, memorize the syntax markers in Greek.

The two main syntax markers in classical Greek are μὲν and δὲ. They mark point and counterpoint in a thought; think of “counterpoint” in music, a different melody that enriches the main melody.  Men often appears at the start of a sentence and de soon after. You can find them near the end of the subsection we’re discussing in a new clause.

A little stronger than de is γὰρ, which you will see near the start of subsection 2. It tends to mean “for” and gives a reason for a prior statement.

The marker τε is slightly emphatic and has an additive connotation. This is reinforced in the syntax phrase καὶ τε (we don’t have an example of that here).

While καὶ can mean “and”, it is often used in places where it really isn’t a conjunction but a syntax marker for a continued thought. You will also see καὶ… καὶ, “both….and”.

When I mark the syntax particles in our first subsection, you can see why it’s an issue that we have only three conjugated verbs.

Θουκυδίδης Ἀθηναῖος ξυνέγραψε τὸν πόλεμον τῶν Πελοποννησίων καὶ Ἀθηναίων, ὡς ἐπολέμησαν πρὸς ἀλλήλους, ἀρξάμενος εὐθὺς καθισταμένου καὶ ἐλπίσας μέγαν τε ἔσεσθαι καὶ ἀξιολογώτατον τῶν προγεγενημένων, τεκμαιρόμενος ὅτι ἀκμάζοντές τε ᾖσαν ἐς αὐτὸν ἀμφότεροι παρασκευῇ τῇ πάσῃ καὶ τὸ ἄλλο Ἑλληνικὸν ὁρῶν ξυνιστάμενον πρὸς ἑκατέρους, τὸ μὲν εὐθύς, τὸ δὲ καὶ διανοούμενον.

After isan there are no conjugated verbs. In the bit marked by men, there is no verb form at all, just the adverb euthus, “immediately” (memorize that, you’ll see it a lot). What happened “immediately”?

This gets us into the issue of verbal derivatives and how classical Greek uses them.