Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs do not follow the standard patterns of conjugation for their tense, mood, or voice.
They are exceptions in the Greek language and must be learnt individually.
These verbs often exhibit unique stems, and their irregularity remains across all their forms.
The verb ‘εἰμί’ (I am) is one such irregular Greek verb.

Irregular verbs exhibit different verb stems in different tenses or mood forms.
For instance, the future of ‘εἰμί’ (I am) is ‘ἔσομαι’ (I will be).
The aorist of ‘ὁράω’ (I see) is ‘εἶδον’ (I saw).

As irregular verbs do not follow the common rules, they must be memorised in their entirety.
Practice individual irregular verbs by forming sentences in different tenses.
Do not let the irregularity intimidate you, the more you use them, the more natural it will feel.

Irregular verbs are commonly used in Classical Greek, just like in English. They are found in a wide variety of texts and contexts.
Understanding irregular verbs can make a big difference in reading comprehension and translation accuracy, as they are often pivotal to the meaning of a sentence.
They can function in all the same ways as regular verbs—they just look different when they do!

The principal parts of an irregular verb (usually 6 in total) give you the forms you need to conjugate the verb in all its tenses and moods. Learn these well!
Some irregular verbs share similarities that can help in learning them. For example, many have a θη- stem in the passive forms.
Despite their complexity, irregular verbs are a crucial part of the Greek language. Understanding them will vastly improve your fluency in reading Classical Greek.