SUBJUNCTIVE

Fundamental value: the user expresses, having some authority in the matter, his desire that the subject perform (etc.) the action: Ἀπολυθῶσιν Let them be freed. This value can be traced in most, but not all of the practical uses of the subjunctive:

I) In main clauses:

A) Ἴωμεν Let’s go. Μὴ ληρῶσιν They must not talk rubbish. This use is named “adhortative”.

B) A special case of this is the “prohibitive”: always with denial, always 2^nd person, always aorist:

Τὴν οἰκίαν μὴ λίπητε Do not leave the house.

C) When the adhortative is put as a question, one gets a “dubitative”:

Βοηθῶμεν τοῖς παισίν; Should we help the children?

This question regards the desirability of performing the action. A further step is that the question regards the actuality of performing the action:

Οὕτω βοηθῶμεν τοῖς παισίν; Are we helping the children in this manner?

II) In subordinate clauses:

a) there being a clear connection between will and purpose, it is natural that the subjunctive figures in clauses of purpose (final clauses).

Τὴν γεφύραν ἀναίρουσιν, ἵνα μη διαβῶσιν οἱ πολέμιοι. They are demolishing  the bridge, so that the enemies may not cross.

When the subordinate clause is in the negative, the conjunction (ἵνα or ὅπως) is often omitted:

Ἀναιρῶμεν τὴν γεφύραν, μὴ διαβῶσιν οἱ πολέμιοι. Let us demolish the bridge, so that the enemies may not cross.

[Verbs meaning “to fear” or “to prevent” have μή (=that): Κωλύσομεν μὴ οἱ πολέμιοι διαβῶσιν. We shall prevent (that the enemies cross=) the enemies from crossing. Φοβούμεθα μὴ οἱ πολέμιοι διαβῶσιν. We fear that the enemies may cross.]

b) In sentences containing a general statement subordinate clauses have their verb in the subjunctive (generalis)  with addition of ἂν:

Ἀεὶ πάντα λαμβάνουσιν ὅσα ἂν ἐπιθυμῶσιν. They always take as much as they desire.

Ἡνίκα ἂν οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι φιλοφρόνως ἔχωσι τινί, φυλάττεσθαι δεῖ αὐτόν. Whenever the Athenians are friendly to someone, he must beware.

c) In subordinate clauses attached to a main clause in the future, or a predicate that amounts to a future, such as an imperative, the verb is in the subjunctive (futuralis) with addition of ἂν:

Ἕξεις πάντα ὅσα ἂν ἐπιθυμῇς. You shall have all that you desire.

Βοήθησον αὐτοῖς, ἡνίκα ἄν σε αἰτῶσιν. Aid them whenever they demand you to.

Ἴωμεν ὅποι ἂν ἀσπαζώμεθα.  Let us go where we are welcomed.
In Epic and other dialects one may encounter κέν ( or κά) instead of ἂν.

The particle ἂν usually contracts with subordinating conjunctions: ὅτε ἂν> ὅταν, εἰ ἂν> ἐὰν/ἂν/ἢν, ἐπεὶ ἂν> ἐπεὰν/ἐπὰν/ἐπὴν, ἐπειδὴ ἂν> ἐπείδαν, καὶ εἰ ἂν> κἂν.

Note the difference between ἢν and ἦν < εἰμι=to be!

The difference between durative and aorist almost disappears in the subjunctive!

ΝΒ. This treatment of the subjunctive is not exhaustive, but is designed to cover the majority ( over 90 %, to name but a figure)of what one will encounter