Remarks contained in {.....} are also valid for perfects II. & III., taking into account that these have no –κ-.

{Active perfects make their optative by sticking the thematic optative endings onto the perfect stem.}

{Subjunctive and optative are frequently made periphrastically, this is by combining one of the Nominatives (depending on the subject) of the ptc with the copulative εἰμί. N.B. the special A ptc endings! }

I. [red. –κα/κε/κ-]. {Active only. No imperative.}

{ Division of the various suffix forms:

-κα-: all pr-ind forms except 3^rd sg;

-κε-: pr-ind 3^rd sg, all pa-ind forms; inf;

-κ-: all subj & opt forms, all ptc forms.}

{Pr-ind 1^st sg has only the zero-ending, as also the pr-ind 3^rd sg. Pa-ind 3^rd pl has only the ending

-σαν.}

{The pa-ind has the following: 1^st sg: -κη/-κειν, 2^nd sg: -κης/-κεις, 3^rd sg: -κει^ν, 1^st pl: -κεμεν/-κειμεν, 2^nd pl: -κετε/-κειτε, 3^rd pl: -κεσαν/-κεισαν. The later the texts date is, the more chance of finding –ει-.}

This kind of perfect is used with stems ending in vowels, in dentals (δ, θ, τ, which drop out before the –κ-), in liquidae (λ, μ, ν, ρ, of which –ν- changes into –γ- before the –κ-), in –σ-which also drops out before the –κ-.

[See also canonical conjugation for a complete conjugation of this type]

Ablaut (ἔσταλκα  from στέλλω) is a frequent phenomenon in these perfects, but the stems with the “wrong” vowel are included in the list of verb stems, so there is no need to concern oneself.

Finding the lexical form: first make the pr-ind 1^st sg in -κα and then consult the following table:

If this does not produce results, consult the list of verb stems.