Contract verbs
 
While contract verbs are a little difficult to get used to in the present tense complex (principal part 1 conjugation patterns), they are some of the easiest -ω verbs, because totally predictable (with some, very few, exceptions. Of course! No rule without one of those!). The only thing to remember is this:
 
      Their stem end-vowel lengthens. In all 5 parts.      
  1. Verbs in  -ε  lengthen this ε to η
  2. Verbs in  -α  lengthen this α to η (just like -ε verbs do).
  3. Verbs in  -ο  lengthen this ο to ω
 
 

1. Contract verbs in -ε-

 
present tensefuture tenseaorist (act/mid)perfect actperfect passaorist pass
ποιέω ποιήσω ἐποίησα πεποίηκα πεποίημαι ἐποιήθην
ἀδικέω ἀδικήσω ἠδίκησα ἀδίκηκα ἠδίκημαι ἠδικήθην
   Exceptions (καλῶ I call; αἴρῶ I capture, I take. And their compounds):
καλέω [καλέω] καλῶ ἐκάλεσα κέκληκα κέκλημαι ἐκλήθην
αἱρέω αἱρήσω εἷλον ᾕρηκα ᾕρημαι ᾑρέθην
 

 Now try these:

 I work hard every day, in Greek is
μάλα πονῶ καθ' ἡμέραν.
 So how do you translate:
 1. I worked hard yesterday.
 2. I have worked hard and am now very tired (κάμνω)
 3. I shall not work so hard tomorrow.
 φιλῶ, I love or kiss
 4. He'll love his bride all his life. [at least that's what he promised at the wedding]
 5. And then he kissed her.
 6. And then she was kissed by all.
 7. [A few days later, see the tell-tale marks on his handkerchief] He's been kissed by another!
 
 
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1. Contract verbs in -α-

 
present tense future tense aorist (act/mid) perfect act perfect pass aorist pass
τιμάω τιμήσω ἐτίμησα τετίμηκα τετίμημαι ἐτιμήθην
ἀγαπάω ἀγαπήσω ἠγάπησα ἠγάπηκα ἠγάπημαι ἠγαπήθην
   Exceptions ὁράω (I see) very irregular), and some others to be learnt when met in readings.
   Exceptions -ᾱσω after a vowel or a ρ
θηράω (I hunt) θηράσω ἐθήρᾱσα τεθήρᾱκα τεθήρᾱμαι ἐθηράθην
θεάομαι θεάσομαι ἐθεᾱσάμην - τεθέᾱμαι -
 
 
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1. Contract verbs in -ο-

 
present tense future tense aorist (act/mid) perfect act perfect pass aorist pass
δηλόω δηλώσω ἐδήλωσα δεδήλωκα δεδήλωμαι ἐδηλώθην
ἐλευθερόω ἐλευθερώσω ἠλευθέρωσα ἠλευθέρωκα ἠλευθήρωμαι ἠλευθερώθην
   Exceptions No exceptions that I can think of!
 
 
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