Greek · Lesson 11

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Contract Verbswhen stem vowels collide with endings

Some verb stems end in a vowel — α, ε, or ο. When those vowels meet the connecting vowel of the ending, they don't sit side-by-side: they fuse. The result is a contract verb. This lesson starts with the foundations of contract verbs (lexical vs. surface form, the three families, the three diagnostic signals), walks through the contraction rule sets for all three stem vowels, derives the full ε-contract paradigm in Step 1/2/3 on ποιέω, lays the three surface paradigms (ἀγαπάω, ποιέω, πληρόω) side by side, walks the six-step parsing workflow on real NT forms, and finishes with a translation-practice section of 12 NT-style sentences across all three contract families.

Watch · 22-Slide Overview

Contract Verbs — The Visual Tour

A complete tour of contraction itself, the Big Five contraction rules, the circumflex-as-signal, the lexical-vs-surface form distinction, the three families (α-, ε-, ο-contracts), the three surface paradigms (αγαπαω, ποιεω, πληροω), the three diagnostic signals for spotting contracts in the wild, the −ζω look-alike trap, the aorist stem-vowel lengthening rule with John 3:16 as anchor, the John 21 reading of Peter's threefold restoration, and the cultural note on why Greek contracts at all. Watch first for the framework; the detailed written exposition below works through every point at depth.

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LESSON 11 · Unit III — The Verb System · ~45 minutes + drilling

By the End of This Lesson

Define what a contract verb is and why Greek contracts certain vowel combinations
Distinguish the lexical (uncontracted) form from the surface (contracted) form
Recognize contract verbs by their lexical form (-άω, -έω, -όω) and by three diagnostic signals (circumflex, iota subscript, fused endings)
Apply the three contraction rule sets (α-, ε-, ο-) to produce surface forms from underlying combinations
Derive the ε-contract paradigm of ποιέω in three steps (six endings → apply rules → state surface paradigm)
Conjugate ἀγαπάω, ποιέω, and πληρόω fully in the present active indicative and compare them side by side
Parse any present-active contract verb using the six-step workflow
Translate contract verbs in real NT contexts, picking the best of three English options (simple/progressive/habitual)
Distinguish contract verbs from -ζω look-alikes (δοξάζω, βαπτίζω, σώζω) that look like α-contracts but are not
Memorize the 26 Lesson 11 vocabulary words (4 α-, 13 ε-, 4 ο-contracts plus 5 -ζω verbs)

New to Greek? Use the 3-pass path

Pass 1 — UnderstandWatch the overview and read the main explanation. Do not try to master every detail today.

Pass 2 — RecognizeMemorize the main chart or paradigm and do the first trainer sets.

Pass 3 — MasterWork through the 20 worked examples, translation exercises, and mastery test slowly.

Today's minimum

If you are new, this is enough for today.

Contract verbs hide their lexical form.
ἀγαπάω appears as ἀγαπῶ.
Learn the three patterns: ἀγαπῶ, ποιῶ, πληρῶ.
Do only the first 2–3 trainer sets today.

Watch — Bill Mounce companion lecture

BBG Ch 17

BBG Ch 17 Contract Verbs Watch on YouTube ↗

Mounce introduces the verb system with the present active indicative — the gateway to all Greek verbs. Directly parallels our Lesson 11.

CorePart 1: Contract Verbs — Foundations

Before drilling forms, lock in the conceptual map: what a contract verb is, the lexical-vs-surface form distinction, the three contract families, why this matters for translation, and how to spot a contract in the wild.

1.1 What a contract verb is

Recap from Lesson 10: regular ω-verbs have a stem ending in a consonant or back vowel — λυ-, βλεπ-, ἀκου-. When the personal ending was attached, the connecting vowel ο/ε sat next to the stem and everything looked tidy on the page (λύ-ο-μεν → λύομεν).

Contract verbs are different. Their stems end in a SHORT VOWEL — α, ε, or ο. When the verb's stem vowel meets the connecting vowel (-ο/-ε) of the personal ending, the two vowels do not stand side by side — they CONTRACT into a single long vowel or diphthong. The contraction is automatic and obligatory in Koine Greek, and it follows three rule sets — one per stem vowel.

1.2 The lexical-vs-surface form trick

Here is the move that confuses every beginner: contract verbs are CITED IN THE LEXICON in their UNCONTRACTED form (ἀγαπάω, ποιέω, πληρόω) so you can see the stem vowel — but you NEVER actually see this form in real Greek. The form you see in the NT is always the CONTRACTED one (ἀγαπῶ, ποιῶ, πληρῶ).

So when you look up a contract verb in BDAG or any lexicon, you search by the uncontracted form. When you read the NT, you must recognize the contracted form and trace it back to its lexical entry.

The two forms in one pair Lexical form (dictionary entry — the uncontracted shape; in NT text you almost always see the contracted surface form instead): ἀγαπάω, ποιέω, πληρόω.
Surface form (what you actually see on the page in NT Greek): ἀγαπῶ, ποιῶ, πληρῶ.
Both must be recognizable. Fluent readers see the surface form and instantly recall the lexical form.

1.3 The three contract families

Three families, one per stem vowel:

α-contracts: stem ends in α (e.g., ἀγαπά-). Lexical form ends in -άω. Surface 1sg ends in -ῶ. About 4 verbs in this lesson's vocab.
ε-contracts: stem ends in ε (e.g., ποιέ-). Lexical form ends in -έω. Surface 1sg ends in -ῶ. About 13 verbs in this lesson's vocab. By far the most common contract family in the NT.
ο-contracts: stem ends in ο (e.g., πληρό-). Lexical form ends in -όω. Surface 1sg ends in -ῶ. About 4 verbs in this lesson's vocab.

Each family has its own contraction table (drilled in the next section). All three give -ῶ in the 1st singular; the differences emerge in the 2nd/3rd singular and the plurals.

1.4 Why this matters for translation

When you encounter ἀγαπῶ in a verse, you must recognize it as 1sg present active indicative of ἀγαπάω. If you don't know the α-contract rule, you will fail to find the lexical form — the dictionary entry — and you'll be stuck. Same for ποιῶ (← ποιέω) and πληρῶ (← πληρόω). The parsing workflow gains ONE extra step compared to Lesson 10 — identifying the contract type — and then it proceeds normally.

1.5 Recognizing contract verbs in the lexicon (and in the wild)

Contract verbs are easy to spot in the lexicon: the lexical form ends in -άω, -έω, or -όω. The accent on the contract vowel is the giveaway.

In the wild (in NT text), three diagnostic signals identify a contract verb:

A circumflex accent on the final vowel. Circumflexes very often mark contractions — two vowels have fused into a single long vowel, conventionally notated with circumflex.
An iota subscript (ᾳ, ῃ, ῳ) on what should be a stem vowel. The ι of an original -ει ending often survives subscript-style on the contracted long vowel. This is the α-contract signature: ἀγαπᾷ in 3rd singular.
An ending that looks "fused" — shorter or denser than the regular -ω, -εις, -ει, -ομεν, -ετε, -ουσι pattern. ποιεῖ, πληροῖ, ἀγαπᾷ all look "tighter" than λύει.

Part 1 summary

Contract verb = stem ends in α, ε, or ο. The stem vowel fuses with the connecting/ending vowel.
Lexical (uncontracted) form is what the dictionary lists. Surface (contracted) form is what you see on the page.
Three families: α-contract (4 verbs), ε-contract (13 verbs — most common), ο-contract (4 verbs).
Three diagnostic signals: circumflex, iota subscript, "fused" ending.
The lexical form always ends in -άω, -έω, or -όω.

CorePart 2: What Contraction Is

In Lesson 10 you saw verbs like λύω whose stem ends in a consonant or back vowel. Connecting the stem to the personal ending was straightforward: λύ + ο + μεν → λύομεν.

⚠ Gotcha — the circumflex accent signals contraction When you see a circumflex accent over a vowel in a verb form, that is almost always a sign of contraction — two vowels have been merged. ποιεῖ (not ποιέει) — the circumflex tells you ε+ε fused. If you see an unexpected circumflex on a verb form and can't parse it as a simple verb, ask: could this be a contract verb?

But many common Greek verbs have stems ending in α, ε, or ο. When you try to combine these stems with the personal endings, you end up with two vowels meeting — and Greek phonology refuses to let certain vowel combinations stand. They collapse into a single vowel or diphthong.

So the verb looks different on the surface than its underlying form would suggest. The dictionary lists the underlying form (with the stem vowel visible), but in actual texts you see the contracted form.

The lexical form vs. the surface form Dictionaries list contract verbs in their UNCONTRACTED form — e.g., ἀγαπάω. But in actual NT text you'll see the CONTRACTED form: ἀγαπῶ ("I love"). The α + ω contracted to ω.

Mounce gives both forms; when looking up a word, you search by the lexical form (uncontracted) but read the contracted form in the text.

CorePart 3: The Three Contraction Patterns

Stem in α (alpha contracts), stem in ε (epsilon contracts), stem in ο (omicron contracts).

💡 Tip — learn ε-contract first, it's the most common The ε-contract pattern (φιλέω → φιλῶ) produces the most NT forms. Prioritize it. The key contractions to know cold: ε+ω → ω, ε+ε → ει, ε+ο → ου, ε+ει → ει. If you memorize these four combinations, you can recognize most ε-contract present forms on sight.

Alpha contracts (stem ending in α)

α + ε/η → α; α + ο/ω → ω; α + ει → ᾳ

Underlying	Contracts to	Example
α + ε	α (long)	ἀγαπα-ε-τε → ἀγαπᾶτε
α + ει	ᾳ	ἀγαπα-εις → ἀγαπᾷς
α + ο/ω	ω	ἀγαπα-ω → ἀγαπῶ
α + ου	ω	ἀγαπα-ουσι → ἀγαπῶσι(ν)

Epsilon contracts (stem ending in ε)

ε + ε → ει; ε + ο → ου; ε + long vowel → long vowel

Underlying	Contracts to	Example
ε + ε	ει	ποιε-ετε → ποιεῖτε
ε + ει	ει	ποιε-εις → ποιεῖς
ε + ο	ου	ποιε-ομεν → ποιοῦμεν
ε + ω	ω	ποιε-ω → ποιῶ
ε + ου	ου	ποιε-ουσι → ποιοῦσι(ν)

Omicron contracts (stem ending in ο)

ο + ε/ο → ου; ο + ω → ω; ο + ει/ῃ → οῖ; ο + ου → ου

Underlying	Contracts to	Example
ο + ω	ω	πληρο-ω → πληρῶ
ο + ε	ου	πληρο-ετε → πληροῦτε
ο + ει	οῖ	πληρο-εις → πληροῖς
ο + ο	ου	πληρο-ομεν → πληροῦμεν
ο + ου	ου	πληρο-ουσι → πληροῦσι(ν)

⚠ Don't try to memorize every rule cell The rules look intimidating, but in practice you'll memorize the SURFACE paradigms (below) and let the rules sit in the background. The rules explain WHY the forms look the way they do; the paradigms tell you what to recognize and produce.

CorePart 4: Three Surface Paradigms — Memorize These

ἀγαπάω → ἀγαπῶ — "I love" (α-contract)

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	ἀγαπῶ	ἀγαπῶμεν
2nd	ἀγαπᾷς	ἀγαπᾶτε
3rd	ἀγαπᾷ	ἀγαπῶσι(ν)

ποιέω → ποιῶ — "I do, make" (ε-contract)

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	ποιῶ	ποιοῦμεν
2nd	ποιεῖς	ποιεῖτε
3rd	ποιεῖ	ποιοῦσι(ν)

πληρόω → πληρῶ — "I fill, fulfill" (ο-contract)

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	πληρῶ	πληροῦμεν
2nd	πληροῖς	πληροῦτε
3rd	πληροῖ	πληροῦσι(ν)

Spotting contracts in the wild Three signals tell you you're looking at a contract verb:

1. Iota subscript on a stem-vowel-looking ending — e.g., ἀγαπᾷ with iota subscript under the α suggests an α-contract 3rd singular.

2. Circumflex on the contracted vowel — circumflexes mark contractions: ἀγαπῶ, ποιοῦμεν, πληροῖς.

3. The lexical form ends in -άω, -έω, or -όω — these endings in the dictionary always signal contract behavior.

Common error

✗ Reading ποιῶ as a present-tense form unrelated to ποιέω

✓ ποιῶ IS the contracted form of ποιέω

Lexicons list ε-contract verbs in their uncontracted form (ποιέω) but they appear in the NT in their contracted form (ποιῶ). The circumflex accent over the contracted vowel is your visual signal that contraction happened.

CorePart 5: Step 1/2/3 Derivation — the ε-Contract Paradigm (ποιέω)

Let's derive the most common contract paradigm carefully. ε-contracts dominate the NT (about 13 of the 26 Lesson 11 verbs); mastering ποιέω gives you the template for all of them.

Step 1 — The six personal endings (recap from Lesson 10)

The same six endings you drilled in Lesson 10 carry over unchanged:

The Six Personal Endings (present active indicative)

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	-ω	-ομεν
2nd	-εις	-ετε
3rd	-ει	-ουσι(ν)

These are exactly the same endings as λύω, βλέπω, ἀκούω. The only difference now: they will meet the stem-final ε of ποιε- and CONTRACT.

Step 2 — Apply the ε-contract rules to stem ποιε-

Attach each ending to ποιε- and apply the rule: ε is weak, it gets absorbed by long vowels and fuses tightly with short vowels.

Stem ποιε- + ending → contracted form

Person/Number	Underlying	Rule	Surface form
1 sg	ποιε + ω	ε + ω → ω	ποιῶ
2 sg	ποιε + εις	ε + ει → ει	ποιεῖς
3 sg	ποιε + ει	ε + ει → ει	ποιεῖ
1 pl ★	ποιε + ομεν	ε + ο → ου	ποιοῦμεν
2 pl	ποιε + ετε	ε + ε → ει	ποιεῖτε
3 pl ★	ποιε + ουσι	ε + ου → ου	ποιοῦσι(ν)

★ SPECIAL rows: 1 pl and 3 pl show the ε + ο → ου combination — that's where the -οῦμεν and -οῦσι patterns come from. These two endings are the most "surprising" of the ε-contract paradigm because they don't share a vowel with the 3 sg or 2 pl pattern.

Another surprise: the 2 sg, 3 sg, and 2 pl all share the ει diphthong (-εῖς, -εῖ, -εῖτε) because ε meets either ε or ει and produces ει each time. Once you internalize this, half the paradigm collapses into a single pattern.

Step 3 — State the full ποιέω paradigm

ποιέω → ποιῶ — "I do, make" (ε-contract)

The complete present active indicative paradigm

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	ποιῶ ("I do/make")	ποιοῦμεν ("we do/make")
2nd	ποιεῖς ("you do/make")	ποιεῖτε ("you all do/make")
3rd	ποιεῖ ("he/she does/makes")	ποιοῦσι(ν) ("they do/make")

💡 Tip — the ε-contract paradigm in one phrase Chant: ποιῶ, ποιεῖς, ποιεῖ, ποιοῦμεν, ποιεῖτε, ποιοῦσι(ν). Once memorized, apply the same surface pattern to λαλέω, ζητέω, καλέω, τηρέω, φιλέω, μαρτυρέω, παρακαλέω, περιπατέω, θεωρέω, εὐλογέω, εὐχαριστέω, κρατέω. Endings stay constant; only the stem changes.

Worked transfer — applying ποιέω's pattern to λαλέω λαλῶ — "I speak" (1 sg).
λαλεῖς — "you speak" (2 sg).
λαλεῖ — "he/she speaks" (3 sg).
λαλοῦμεν — "we speak" (1 pl).
λαλεῖτε — "you all speak" (2 pl).
λαλοῦσι(ν) — "they speak" (3 pl).
Same endings, different stem. Drill all 13 ε-contract verbs the same way.

ReferencePart 5b: All Three Contract Paradigms Side by Side

Now lay the three surface paradigms next to each other. This single comparison is the most useful drill for cementing what makes each contract family distinct.

Side-by-side: ἀγαπάω (α) · ποιέω (ε) · πληρόω (ο)

Same six person/number combos, three different contract types

Person/Number	α-contract ἀγαπάω	ε-contract ποιέω	ο-contract πληρόω
1 sg	ἀγαπῶ	ποιῶ	πληρῶ
2 sg	ἀγαπᾷς	ποιεῖς	πληροῖς
3 sg	ἀγαπᾷ	ποιεῖ	πληροῖ
1 pl	ἀγαπῶμεν	ποιοῦμεν	πληροῦμεν
2 pl	ἀγαπᾶτε	ποιεῖτε	πληροῦτε
3 pl	ἀγαπῶσι(ν)	ποιοῦσι(ν)	πληροῦσι(ν)

Patterns to notice 1 sg is identical across all three — -ῶ. You must know the lexical form to tell α-, ε-, or ο-contract apart.

3 sg is the cleanest diagnostic: -ᾷ (α), -εῖ (ε), -οῖ (ο). Three distinctive endings, one for each family.

1 pl & 3 pl partially overlap between ε- and ο-contracts (both use -οῦμεν / -οῦσι). The lexical form disambiguates: ποιέω → ε-contract; πληρόω → ο-contract.

2 pl differs in every family: -ᾶτε (α), -εῖτε (ε), -οῦτε (ο). Three distinct surface forms.

α-contract has iota subscript in singular endings (ᾷ, ᾷς). The only family with this feature in the present indicative.

CorePart 6: Looking Ahead — Contract Verbs in the Aorist

In Lesson 15 you'll meet the aorist tense and learn to spot the σα tense formative. When a contract verb forms its aorist, something predictable happens: the stem vowel lengthens before the σ. Knowing this rule now means you'll recognize aorist forms of contract verbs at sight when they appear in your reading — even before Lesson 15 formally introduces the aorist.

The lengthening rule

Before σ (and before any consonant ending), the contract stem vowel lengthens:

Stem-vowel lengthening before σ

Stem ends in	Lengthens to	Example
α	η	ἀγαπά- → ἀγαπη- (e.g., ἠγάπησα "I loved")
ε	η	ποιε- → ποιη- (e.g., ἐποίησα "I did/made")
ο	ω	πληρο- → πληρω- (e.g., ἐπλήρωσα "I filled/fulfilled")

So in Lesson 15 when you meet the aorist signature (augment ἐ + stem + σα + ending), contract verbs will look like:

ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον.

"God loved the world." (John 3:16, partial.) ἠγάπησεν = aorist of ἀγαπάω. Augment ἠ- (the original ἀ lengthens to η before consonant) + stem ἀγαπη- (the α has lengthened to η before σ) + σα tense formative + 3sg ending -ν → ἠγάπησεν. The double "η-letter" is the contract verb's aorist signature.

What to do when reading

When you see a verb with an augment, a long vowel where you'd expect a short one (η or ω), and a σα ending — and the lexicon entry shows the verb as a contract — you're looking at the aorist of a contract verb. The lengthened vowel is your signal. Don't treat it as a different verb; it's the same lexical item just in past tense with the predictable lengthening applied.

You'll meet this formally in Lesson 15. For now, when you encounter aorist forms of ἀγαπάω, ποιέω, πληρόω, καλέω, λαλέω, τιμάω in your NT reading, recognize them by the lengthened stem-vowel rule.

CorePart 7: Reading Passage — John 21:15-17 (Peter's Threefold Restoration)

After the resurrection, Jesus asks Peter three times whether he loves him. The passage uses two contract verbs in dialogue — ἀγαπάω (α-contract) and φιλέω (ε-contract). The shift between the two has been debated for centuries.

¹⁵ λέγει τῷ Σίμωνι Πέτρῳ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Σίμων Ἰωάννου, ἀγαπᾷς με πλέον τούτων; λέγει αὐτῷ· Ναί, κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε.

"Jesus says to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' He says to him, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.'" Jesus asks with ἀγαπᾷς (2sg of ἀγαπάω — α-contract). Peter answers with φιλῶ (1sg of φιλέω — ε-contract). The contraction patterns: ἀγαπά+ει → ἀγαπᾷ; φιλέ+ω → φιλῶ.

¹⁶ λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον· Σίμων Ἰωάννου, ἀγαπᾷς με; λέγει αὐτῷ· Ναί, κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε.

"He says to him a second time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He says to him, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.'" Jesus repeats with ἀγαπάω; Peter again answers with φιλέω. Two contract verbs, both in dialogue, both contracted on the page exactly as the rules predict.

¹⁷ λέγει αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον· Σίμων Ἰωάννου, φιλεῖς με;

"He says to him the third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me [φιλεῖς]?'" The third time, Jesus switches to Peter's word: φιλεῖς (2sg of φιλέω). The rest of the verse explains that Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the third time. Whether Jesus's switch is a meaningful shift (descent to Peter's level) or a stylistic variation (synonymy in Koine Greek) is a centuries-old exegetical question. Either way, you can now see the contract-verb forms doing their work.

CorePart 7b: Parsing a Contract Verb — the Six-Step Workflow

Parsing a contract verb adds ONE EXTRA STEP to the Lesson 10 routine. Identify the contract type, uncontract to recover the underlying form, state the lexical entry, then parse T-V-M-P-N as usual.

The six-step workflow:

RECOGNIZE that you are looking at a contract verb. Telltales: circumflex on the final vowel; iota subscript on what should be a stem vowel; an ending pattern like -ῶ, -ᾷ, -οῦ, -εῖ.
IDENTIFY which contract type (α, ε, or ο). Look at the surface ending: -ᾷ → α-contract; -εῖ → ε-contract; -οῖ → ο-contract. In the 1 sg all three give -ῶ, so you must know the lexical entry.
UNCONTRACT: apply the rule in reverse to find the underlying form. ἀγαπᾷ ← ἀγαπά + ει. ποιοῦμεν ← ποιέ + ομεν. πληροῖ ← πληρό + ει.
STATE THE LEXICAL FORM — the dictionary entry, always -άω/-έω/-όω.
PARSE T-V-M-P-N — Tense, Voice, Mood, Person, Number. For Lesson 11 forms: present, active, indicative + person + number.
TRANSLATE — pick simple/progressive/habitual English by context.

Worked parsing examples

ἀγαπᾷ

Parse: (1) Circumflex + iota subscript → contract. (2) -ᾷ → α-contract 3 sg. (3) Underlying: ἀγαπά + ει. (4) Lexical: ἀγαπάω. (5) Pres act ind 3 sg from ἀγαπάω. (6) "He/she/it loves."

ποιοῦμεν

Parse: (1) Circumflex on ου → contract. (2) -οῦμεν → ε- or ο-contract 1 pl. (3) Lexicon: ποιέω → ε-contract; underlying ποιέ + ομεν. (4) Lexical: ποιέω. (5) Pres act ind 1 pl. (6) "We do/make."

πληροῖ

Parse: (1) Circumflex + οι → contract. (2) -οῖ → ο-contract 3 sg. (3) Underlying: πληρό + ει. (4) Lexical: πληρόω. (5) Pres act ind 3 sg. (6) "He/she fulfills."

τιμᾷς

Parse: (1) Iota subscript + circumflex → α-contract. (2) -ᾷς → α-contract 2 sg. (3) Underlying: τιμά + εις. (4) Lexical: τιμάω. (5) Pres act ind 2 sg. (6) "You honor."

σταυροῦσι(ν)

Parse: (1) Circumflex on ου. (2) -οῦσι → ε- or ο-contract 3 pl. (3) Lexicon: σταυρόω → ο-contract; underlying σταυρό + ουσι. (4) Lexical: σταυρόω. (5) Pres act ind 3 pl. (6) "They crucify."

ζητοῦσιν

Parse: (1) Circumflex on ου. (2) -οῦσι(ν) → ε- or ο-contract 3 pl. (3) Lexicon: ζητέω → ε-contract; underlying ζητέ + ουσι. (4) Lexical: ζητέω. (5) Pres act ind 3 pl. (6) "They seek."

καλεῖτε

Parse: (1) Circumflex on ει. (2) -εῖτε → ε-contract 2 pl. (3) Underlying: καλέ + ετε. (4) Lexical: καλέω. (5) Pres act ind 2 pl from καλέω — or imperative (same form). (6) "You call" / "Call!" — context decides.

💡 Tip — in 1 sg all three families are -ῶ For 1 sg forms (ἀγαπῶ, ποιῶ, πληρῶ, ζητῶ, σταυρῶ), the contract type is INVISIBLE on the surface. You MUST know the lexical entry. Memorize each verb's lexical form as you encounter it — that's why your trainer drills the vocabulary in step 8.

ReferencePart 8: Vocabulary Notes

Five vocabulary notes on contract verbs and their high-frequency NT forms.

ἀγαπάω — "I love" (α-contract) About 143 NT occurrences. The verb form of ἀγάπη. Lexicon entry: ἀγαπάω. Reading form: ἀγαπῶ (1sg, with ά+ω contracting to ῶ). The conjugation is fully regular once you apply the α-contract rules: ἀγαπῶ, ἀγαπᾷς, ἀγαπᾷ, ἀγαπῶμεν, ἀγαπᾶτε, ἀγαπῶσι(ν). When this verb appears in the NT, it's often paired with the noun ἀγάπη in the surrounding context — a writerly choice.

ποιέω — "I do, I make" (ε-contract) About 568 NT occurrences. Lexicon: ποιέω. Reading: ποιῶ (1sg). The full present: ποιῶ, ποιεῖς, ποιεῖ, ποιοῦμεν, ποιεῖτε, ποιοῦσι(ν). One of the most common verbs in the NT — covers everything from making physical objects to performing actions to producing results. English derivatives: poet, poem (from ποιητής, "maker"). The famous Eph 2:10 calls Christians God's ποίημα ("workmanship, what God has made").

πληρόω — "I fill, I fulfill" (ο-contract) About 87 NT occurrences. Lexicon: πληρόω. Reading: πληρῶ (1sg). The conjugation: πληρῶ, πληροῖς, πληροῖ, πληροῦμεν, πληροῦτε, πληροῦσι(ν). When NT writers say a prophecy was fulfilled (ἐπληρώθη), they use this verb. The perfect mid/pass πεπλήρωται ("it stands fulfilled") opens Mark's ministry summary (Mark 1:15) — Lesson 20.

ζητέω — "I seek" (ε-contract) About 117 NT occurrences. Lexicon: ζητέω. Jesus's first words in John's Gospel are τί ζητεῖτε; ("What do you seek?", John 1:38). The same root produces English "zetetic" (relating to inquiry). The famous Matt 6:33 — ζητεῖτε δὲ πρῶτον τὴν βασιλείαν ("seek first the kingdom") — is an imperative form (Lesson 33), but the root and contraction pattern are visible.

φιλέω — "I love (as a friend), I have affection for" About 25 NT occurrences. Less common than ἀγαπάω. Often translated "love" but with the connotation of friendship-love or warm affection. The noun φιλία ("friendship") and the prefix φιλο- (in compounds like φιλόσοφος "wisdom-lover, philosopher") share the root. Whether ἀγαπάω and φιλέω were genuinely distinguished in Koine, or had become near-synonyms by NT times, is debated; in John 21 the question becomes especially pointed.

PracticePart 9: Translation Practice — Reading Contract Verbs in Context

Twelve NT-style sentences featuring contract verbs across all three families. For each: identify the contract verb's underlying form + parse it, then give idiomatic English.

1. ἀγαπῶμεν τὸν θεόν.

Parse: ἀγαπῶμεν — α-contract 1 pl, from ἀγαπάω (ἀγαπά + ομεν → ἀγαπῶμεν). Translation: "We love God." Echo of 1 John 4:19.

2. ὁ θεὸς ἀγαπᾷ τὸν κόσμον.

Parse: ἀγαπᾷ — α-contract 3 sg, from ἀγαπάω. Translation: "God loves the world." Echo of John 3:16; gnomic (timeless) present.

3. τιμᾷς τὸν πατέρα σου.

Parse: τιμᾷς — α-contract 2 sg, from τιμάω (τιμά + εις → τιμᾷς). Translation: "You honor your father." Cf. Mark 7:10 (the fifth commandment).

4. οἱ μαθηταὶ ἐρωτῶσι τὸν Ἰησοῦν.

Parse: ἐρωτῶσι — α-contract 3 pl, from ἐρωτάω. Translation: "The disciples ask Jesus."

5. ὁ Ἰησοῦς λαλεῖ τῷ ὄχλῳ.

Parse: λαλεῖ — ε-contract 3 sg, from λαλέω (λαλέ + ει → λαλεῖ). Translation: "Jesus speaks to the crowd." Dative = recipient.

6. ζητοῦμεν τὴν ἀλήθειαν.

Parse: ζητοῦμεν — ε-contract 1 pl, from ζητέω (ζητέ + ομεν → ζητοῦμεν). Translation: "We seek the truth."

7. καλεῖ ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς μαθητάς.

Parse: καλεῖ — ε-contract 3 sg, from καλέω. Translation: "Jesus calls the disciples."

8. τηροῦμεν τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ Χριστοῦ.

Parse: τηροῦμεν — ε-contract 1 pl, from τηρέω. Translation: "We keep the commandments of Christ." Cf. 1 John 5:3.

9. περιπατοῦμεν ἐν τῷ φωτί.

Parse: περιπατοῦμεν — ε-contract 1 pl, from περιπατέω. Translation: "We walk in the light." Echo of 1 John 1:7.

10. ὁ Χριστὸς πληροῖ τὸν νόμον.

Parse: πληροῖ — ο-contract 3 sg, from πληρόω (πληρό + ει → πληροῖ). Translation: "Christ fulfills the law."

11. σταυροῦσι τὸν Ἰησοῦν.

Parse: σταυροῦσι — ο-contract 3 pl, from σταυρόω. Translation: "They crucify Jesus." Vivid narrative present in the Passion accounts.

12. φανεροῖ ὁ θεὸς τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ.

Parse: φανεροῖ — ο-contract 3 sg, from φανερόω. Translation: "God reveals his righteousness." Cf. Rom 3:21 (where the verb is in the perfect, but the lexical pattern is the same).

💡 Translation tips for contract verbs (i) Memorize each contract verb WITH its uncontracted form in the lexicon. When you see ἀγαπῶ, ποιῶ, πληρῶ, ζητῶ, immediately think "lexical form: -άω / -έω / -όω."

(ii) The contract rules are AUTOMATIC — don't fight them. Internalize the surface paradigms and let the rules sit in the background.

(iii) ε-CONTRACTS are by far the most common in the NT. Drill ποιέω, λαλέω, ζητέω, καλέω, τηρέω hardest.

(iv) For translation, the present tense still gives THREE valid English options (simple/progressive/habitual). Pick by context — gnomic statements take simple English; in-scene action takes progressive; characteristic activity takes habitual.

(v) Common contract verbs in the NT to drill cold: ἀγαπάω (love), λαλέω (speak), ζητέω (seek), τηρέω (keep), τιμάω (honor), ποιέω (do/make), καλέω (call), περιπατέω (walk), φιλέω (love-as-friend), μαρτυρέω (testify), σταυρόω (crucify), πληρόω (fulfill), φανερόω (reveal).

PracticePart 10: Challenge Verses — Try It on the Greek NT

Four NT phrases featuring contract verbs. Identify the verb's lexical (uncontracted) form and the contraction at work.

Challenge 1 — Jesus on the heart

ἀγαπήσεις τὸν θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου.

Reveal answer

"You shall love your God from your whole heart." (Mark 12:30, partial, echoing Deut 6:5.) ἀγαπήσεις = future 2sg of ἀγαπάω. The future tense (Lesson 18) inserts σ between stem and ending. The α-contraction in present tense becomes a long vowel (η) before the σ. ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου = "from your whole heart" (ἐκ + gen).

Challenge 2 — Doing as making

ταῦτα ποιεῖτε εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν ἀνάμνησιν.

Reveal answer

"Do these things in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24-25.) ποιεῖτε = 2pl present active of ποιέω (or imperative — same form). ταῦτα = "these things" (acc neuter pl). εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν ἀνάμνησιν = "into my remembrance" (preposition + acc with possessive adjective ἐμή). The institution of the Lord's Supper.

Challenge 3 — Seeking and finding

ὁ ζητῶν εὑρίσκει.

Reveal answer

"The one seeking finds." (Matt 7:8, Luke 11:10.) ὁ ζητῶν = present active participle of ζητέω, masc nom sg with article ("the seeking one") — substantive use. εὑρίσκει = 3sg present active of εὑρίσκω ("I find"). Greek participles will be Lesson 22+; for now, recognize ζητῶν as a contracted participle form ("seeking").

Challenge 4 — The two great commandments

ἀγαπᾷς τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν.

Reveal answer

"You love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:31, Lev 19:18.) ἀγαπᾷς = 2sg present active of ἀγαπάω with α-contract (ά + εις → ᾷς). τὸν πλησίον σου = "your neighbor" (acc; πλησίον "near" used substantively). ὡς σεαυτόν = "as yourself" (reflexive pronoun, Lesson 8 area).

Deep DivePart 11: Optional Deep Dive — A Cultural Note — Greek Contraction and the Soundscape of the NT

Why does Greek contract vowels at all? And what does that tell us about how the New Testament was originally heard?

Languages develop contraction rules because consecutive vowels are harder to pronounce than single vowels. English does it informally — "I am" becomes "I'm," "going to" becomes "gonna." Greek did it systematically. When the verb stem ended in α, ε, or ο and the personal ending began with a vowel, the two vowels collided in speech, then were "smoothed" into a single long vowel or diphthong over generations.

By the Koine period (300 BC – 300 AD), the contractions were no longer optional or stylistic — they were obligatory. ἀγαπάω existed only in the dictionary. In actual NT-era speech and writing, you'd only encounter ἀγαπῶ. The "uncontracted" form is a teaching artifact.

For your reading practice, this means two things. First: when you encounter a present-tense verb with a circumflex over the final vowel (ἀγαπῶ, ποιῶ, πληρῶ), suspect contract. The circumflex itself was originally a phonetic notation for "two pitches in one syllable" — exactly what happens when a long vowel emerges from contraction. Second: the lexicon's uncontracted form is a learning crutch. Once you can read NT Greek fluently, you'll see the contracted forms first and recognize their lexical roots automatically. The two stages are part of the journey.

Going further For Greek phonology and historical sound change, Geoffrey Horrocks's Greek: A History of the Language and Its Speakers (Wiley-Blackwell, 2nd ed.) traces the full development. For contract verb morphology specifically, Mounce's Morphology of Biblical Greek dedicates substantial space to the rules and their exceptions.

PracticePart 12: Sentences with Contract Verbs

ἀγαπῶμεν τὸν θεόν.

— agapōmen ton theon.

"We love God." 1st pl of ἀγαπάω → ἀγαπῶμεν. The α + ο contracted to ω.

ὁ Ἰησοῦς λαλεῖ τῷ ὄχλῳ.

— ho Iēsous lalei tō ochlō.

"Jesus speaks to the crowd." λαλέω → λαλεῖ (3sg ε-contract: ε + ει → ει).

ποιεῖτε τὰ ἔργα τοῦ θεοῦ;

— poieite ta erga tou theou?

"Are you (pl) doing the works of God?" ποιέω → ποιεῖτε (2pl, ε + ε → ει).

ὁ Χριστὸς πληροῖ τὸν νόμον.

— ho Christos plēroi ton nomon.

"Christ fulfills the law." πληρόω → πληροῖ (3sg ο-contract: ο + ει → οῖ).

PracticePart 13: Now You Try It

Three sets of guided exercises — recognizing contract patterns, reverse-engineering surface forms back to lexical entries, and reading contract verbs in real NT phrases.

Set 1 — Identify the contract type

For each contracted form, identify the contract type (α, ε, or ο stem) and the underlying uncontracted form.

ἀγαπῶμεν

Contract type?
Lexical (uncontracted) form?
Person and number?
Translation?

ζητεῖ

Contract type?
Lexical form?
Person and number?
Translation?

πληροῦσι

Contract type?
Lexical form?
Person and number?
Translation?

Reveal answers

ἀγαπῶμεν: α-contract. Lexical form ἀγαπάω. The α + ο of the connecting vowel contracted to ω. 1st plural. Translation: "we love."

ζητεῖ: ε-contract. Lexical form ζητέω. The ε + ει contracted to ει. 3rd singular. Translation: "he/she/it seeks."

πληροῦσι: ο-contract. Lexical form πληρόω. The ο + ουσι contracted to οῦσι. 3rd plural. Translation: "they fill / they fulfill."

Set 2 — Find the lexical form

For each contracted form below, find the lexical (dictionary) form you would search for in BDAG or another lexicon.

καλεῖτε

What lexical form would you look up?
Hint: ε-contract verb meaning "I call."

τιμᾷ

Lexical form?
Person and number?
Hint: α-contract verb meaning "I honor."

σταυροῦμεν

Lexical form?
Hint: ο-contract verb related to σταυρός ("cross").
Translation?

Reveal answers

καλεῖτε: Lexical form καλέω. ε-contract. 2nd plural ("you call"). The εε of stem+ending contracted to ει before -τε.

τιμᾷ: Lexical form τιμάω. α-contract. 3rd singular ("he/she honors"). The α + ει of the ending contracted to ᾷ (alpha with iota subscript and circumflex — the contract verb signature).

σταυροῦμεν: Lexical form σταυρόω. ο-contract. 1st plural ("we crucify"). The ο + ομεν of the ending contracted to οῦμεν.

Set 3 — Contract verbs in real NT context

Each phrase contains one or more contract verbs. Identify the verb, its lexical form, and translate.

ὁ θεὸς ἀγαπᾷ τὸν κόσμον.

Verb?
Contract type?
Translation?

ζητεῖτε καὶ εὑρήσετε.

First verb? (Contract type?)
Translation? (Both verbs)

πληρώθητε ἐν αὐτῷ.

What's the verb? Lexical form?
What family of contract is this?
Translation?

Reveal answers

ὁ θεὸς ἀγαπᾷ τὸν κόσμον: Verb = ἀγαπᾷ, from ἀγαπάω (α-contract). 3rd sg. Translation: "God loves the world." (Echoing John 3:16; the present tense here would be habitual/gnomic — God's characteristic love.)

ζητεῖτε καὶ εὑρήσετε: First verb ζητεῖτε from ζητέω (ε-contract), 2pl present (or imperative). Second verb εὑρήσετε = future of εὑρίσκω (not contract). Translation: "Seek, and you will find." (Matt 7:7; imperative reading.)

πληρώθητε ἐν αὐτῷ: Verb πληρώθητε from πληρόω (ο-contract). This is aorist passive imperative ("Be filled!") — note the lengthened ω before θ. Translation: "Be filled in him." (Cf. Col 2:10 area.) The lengthened vowel is the contract-verb-aorist signature.

PracticeBDAG-Style Parsing Drill — 20 Worked Examples

Guided Practice Do not rush this section. These examples are not a test. Understanding the first five today is success.

Twenty NT contract-verb forms (specific verses cited inside drills where the inflected form matches NT text directly) parsed step by step using the six-step routine from Part 7b. Every example follows the same pattern: (1) recognize the contract (circumflex, iota subscript, contract ending), (2) identify the contract type (α / ε / ο) from the surface ending and the lexicon, (3) uncontract to reveal the underlying form, (4) state the lexical form (always -άω / -έω / -όω), (5) parse T-V-M-P-N, (6) translate. The twenty cover all three contract types, all six person/numbers, the 1 sg "-ῶ ambiguity" (where all three families look identical), and the 2 pl indicative/imperative overlap.

Surface-ending → contract-type cheat sheet α-contract: -ῶ, -ᾷς, -ᾷ, -ῶμεν, -ᾶτε, -ῶσι(ν) — iota subscript + circumflex are the signature.
ε-contract: -ῶ, -εῖς, -εῖ, -οῦμεν, -εῖτε, -οῦσι(ν) — the ει and ου diphthongs with circumflex give it away.
ο-contract: -ῶ, -οῖς, -οῖ, -οῦμεν, -οῦτε, -οῦσι(ν) — οι/ου diphthongs with circumflex.
In the 1 sg ALL THREE families surface as -ῶ. The only way to know which contract family is the lexical form (the dictionary entry's -άω / -έω / -όω). Memorize the lexical entry with the verb — that's the only diagnostic for the 1 sg.

1ἀγαπᾷα-contract · 3 sg

BDAG-style entry: ἀγαπάω — I love; I show love; I cherish

Recognize. Iota subscript under α + circumflex = α-contract diagnostic.
Contract type. -ᾷ → α-contract 3 sg.
Uncontract. ἀγαπά + ει (3 sg ending with thematic vowel) → α + ει contract to ᾳ with circumflex → ᾷ.
Lexical form. ἀγαπάω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 3 sg, from ἀγαπάω.
Translate. "he/she loves." Gnomic or progressive depending on context.

Parse: pres act ind 3 sg, from ἀγαπάω

Translation: "he loves." Echoes John 3:16's ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον (aorist); the present 3 sg appears in 1 John's love discourse.

Exact NT form: Lk 7:5

2ἀγαπᾷςα-contract · 2 sg

BDAG-style entry: ἀγαπάω — I love

Recognize. Iota subscript + circumflex + ending in -ᾷς = α-contract 2 sg.
Contract type. -ᾷς → α-contract 2 sg.
Uncontract. ἀγαπά + εις → α + ει contract to ᾳ with circumflex; the final ς of the 2 sg ending is retained → ᾷς.
Lexical form. ἀγαπάω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 2 sg, from ἀγαπάω.
Translate. "you (sg) love."

Parse: pres act ind 2 sg, from ἀγαπάω

Translation: "you love." Σίμων Ἰωάννου, ἀγαπᾷς με; (John 21:15-17, the threefold restoration), "Simon son of John, do you love me?" One of the most famous 2 sg contract forms in the NT.

Exact NT form: Jn 21:15

3ἀγαπῶμενα-contract · 1 pl

BDAG-style entry: ἀγαπάω — I love

Recognize. Long ω with circumflex + ending -μεν = α- or ε-contract 1 pl. (Both α and ε families produce -ῶμεν in the 1 pl.)
Contract type. Lexicon decides: ἀγαπάω → α-contract. -ῶμεν here is α-contract 1 pl.
Uncontract. ἀγαπά + ομεν → α + ο contract to ω with circumflex → -ῶμεν.
Lexical form. ἀγαπάω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 1 pl, from ἀγαπάω.
Translate. "we love."

Parse: pres act ind 1 pl, from ἀγαπάω

Translation: "we love." ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους (1 John 4:7), "let us love one another" (or indicative "we love one another"). Notice ἀλλήλους is the lesson-8 reciprocal pronoun.

Exact NT form: 1Jn 3:11

4ἀγαπᾶτεα-contract · 2 pl

BDAG-style entry: ἀγαπάω — I love

Recognize. Long ᾶ with circumflex + -τε = α-contract 2 pl.
Contract type. -ᾶτε → α-contract 2 pl. (ε-contract 2 pl is -εῖτε; ο-contract 2 pl is -οῦτε.)
Uncontract. ἀγαπά + ετε → α + ε contract to long ᾱ with circumflex → -ᾶτε.
Lexical form. ἀγαπάω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 2 pl, from ἀγαπάω. (Or imperative — same form. Context decides.)
Translate. Indicative: "you (pl) love"; imperative: "love!"

Parse: pres act ind OR imperative 2 pl, from ἀγαπάω

Translation: Imperative: ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν (Matt 5:44), "love your enemies!" The 2 pl ind/imp identity is permanent across all conjugations.

Exact NT form: Mt 5:44

5ἀγαπῶσινα-contract · 3 pl

BDAG-style entry: ἀγαπάω — I love

Recognize. Long ω with circumflex + -σιν (movable ν) = α- or ε-contract 3 pl.
Contract type. Lexicon: ἀγαπάω → α-contract. -ῶσι(ν) here is α-contract 3 pl.
Uncontract. ἀγαπά + ουσι → α + ου contract to ω with circumflex → -ῶσι. Movable ν added before vowels or at sentence end.
Lexical form. ἀγαπάω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 3 pl, from ἀγαπάω.
Translate. "they love."

Parse: pres act ind 3 pl, from ἀγαπάω

Translation: "they love."

Exact NT form: Lk 6:32

6τιμᾷα-contract · 3 sg

BDAG-style entry: τιμάω — I honor; I value; I esteem

Recognize. Iota subscript + circumflex = α-contract.
Contract type. -ᾷ → α-contract 3 sg.
Uncontract. τιμά + ει → ᾷ.
Lexical form. τιμάω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 3 sg, from τιμάω.
Translate. "he honors."

Parse: pres act ind 3 sg, from τιμάω

Translation: "he honors." ὁ μὴ τιμῶν τὸν υἱὸν οὐ τιμᾷ τὸν πατέρα (John 5:23), "the one not honoring the Son does not honor the Father." Two forms of the same verb in one verse — participle (τιμῶν) + indicative (τιμᾷ).

Exact NT form: Mt 15:8

7ποιεῖε-contract · 3 sg

BDAG-style entry: ποιέω — I do; I make; I act

Recognize. ει diphthong with circumflex = ε-contract 3 sg.
Contract type. -εῖ → ε-contract 3 sg.
Uncontract. ποιέ + ει → ε + ει contract to ει with circumflex → -εῖ.
Lexical form. ποιέω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 3 sg, from ποιέω.
Translate. "he does" / "he makes." Habitual in characterizations of Jesus's ministry.

Parse: pres act ind 3 sg, from ποιέω

Translation: "he does/makes." τὰ ἔργα ἃ ποιεῖ ὁ πατήρ (John 5:36), "the works that the Father does." Combined with a relative pronoun (Lesson 8) and articular nouns.

Exact NT form: Mt 5:32

8ποιοῦμενε-contract · 1 pl

BDAG-style entry: ποιέω — I do; I make

Recognize. ου diphthong with circumflex + -μεν = ε- or ο-contract 1 pl.
Contract type. Lexicon: ποιέω → ε-contract. -οῦμεν here is ε-contract 1 pl.
Uncontract. ποιέ + ομεν → ε + ο contract to ου with circumflex → -οῦμεν.
Lexical form. ποιέω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 1 pl, from ποιέω.
Translate. "we do" / "we make."

Parse: pres act ind 1 pl, from ποιέω

Translation: "we do." Confessional / ethical in NT epistles.

Exact NT form: Jn 11:47

9ζητοῦσινε-contract · 3 pl

BDAG-style entry: ζητέω — I seek; I look for; I desire

Recognize. ου with circumflex + -σιν = ε- or ο-contract 3 pl.
Contract type. Lexicon: ζητέω → ε-contract. -οῦσι(ν) here is ε-contract 3 pl.
Uncontract. ζητέ + ουσι → ε + ου contract to ου with circumflex → -οῦσι. Movable ν.
Lexical form. ζητέω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 3 pl, from ζητέω.
Translate. "they seek."

Parse: pres act ind 3 pl, from ζητέω

Translation: "they seek." πάντες ζητοῦσίν σε (Mark 1:37), "everyone is seeking you" (the disciples to Jesus).

Exact NT form: Mk 1:37

10καλεῖτεε-contract · 2 pl (ind OR imperative)

BDAG-style entry: καλέω — I call; I summon; I name

Recognize. ει with circumflex + -τε = ε-contract 2 pl.
Contract type. -εῖτε → ε-contract 2 pl.
Uncontract. καλέ + ετε → ε + ε contract to ει with circumflex → -εῖτε.
Lexical form. καλέω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind OR imperative, 2 pl, from καλέω.
Translate. Indicative: "you call"; imperative: "call!"

Parse: pres act ind OR imperative 2 pl, from καλέω

Translation: "you call" / "call!" τί δέ με καλεῖτε Κύριε Κύριε (Luke 6:46), "why do you call me 'Lord, Lord'?" Indicative reading.

Exact NT form: Lk 6:46

11λαλεῖε-contract · 3 sg

BDAG-style entry: λαλέω — I speak; I say (often of inspired or weighty speech)

Recognize. ει with circumflex.
Contract type. -εῖ → ε-contract 3 sg.
Uncontract. λαλέ + ει → -εῖ.
Lexical form. λαλέω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 3 sg, from λαλέω.
Translate. "he speaks." Often habitual or characterizing.

Parse: pres act ind 3 sg, from λαλέω

Translation: "he speaks." ὅταν λαλῇ τὸ ψεῦδος ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων λαλεῖ (John 8:44), "when he speaks lies, he speaks out of his own [character]."

Exact NT form: Mt 12:34

12φιλεῖςε-contract · 2 sg

BDAG-style entry: φιλέω — I love (affectionate, friendship love); I have affection for

Recognize. ει with circumflex + -ς = ε-contract 2 sg.
Contract type. -εῖς → ε-contract 2 sg.
Uncontract. φιλέ + εις → -εῖς.
Lexical form. φιλέω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 2 sg, from φιλέω.
Translate. "you (sg) love" (friendship sense).

Parse: pres act ind 2 sg, from φιλέω

Translation: "you love." φιλεῖς με; (John 21:17), "do you love me?" Peter's third answer to Jesus uses φιλέω; the first two questions used ἀγαπάω (drill 2). The lexical contrast is famous — whether semantically loaded or merely stylistic is debated.

Exact NT form: Jn 11:3

13μαρτυρεῖε-contract · 3 sg

BDAG-style entry: μαρτυρέω — I testify; I bear witness; I am a witness

Recognize. ει with circumflex.
Contract type. -εῖ → ε-contract 3 sg.
Uncontract. μαρτυρέ + ει → -εῖ.
Lexical form. μαρτυρέω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 3 sg, from μαρτυρέω.
Translate. "he testifies." Critical Johannine vocabulary.

Parse: pres act ind 3 sg, from μαρτυρέω

Translation: "he testifies." τὸ πνεῦμα ἐστιν τὸ μαρτυροῦν (1 John 5:6, articular participle), "the Spirit is the one testifying." 3 sg indicative μαρτυρεῖ appears in John 5:32-37 in the chain of witnesses.

Exact NT form: Jn 1:15

14τηροῦμενε-contract · 1 pl

BDAG-style entry: τηρέω — I keep; I observe; I guard

Recognize. ου with circumflex + -μεν.
Contract type. Lexicon: τηρέω → ε-contract. -οῦμεν is ε-contract 1 pl.
Uncontract. τηρέ + ομεν → -οῦμεν.
Lexical form. τηρέω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 1 pl, from τηρέω.
Translate. "we keep" / "we observe."

Parse: pres act ind 1 pl, from τηρέω

Translation: "we keep." τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ τηροῦμεν (1 John 2:3), "we keep his commandments." Johannine ethical formula.

Exact NT form: 1Jn 3:22

15πληροῖο-contract · 3 sg

BDAG-style entry: πληρόω — I fill; I fulfill; I complete

Recognize. οι with circumflex = ο-contract diagnostic.
Contract type. -οῖ → ο-contract 3 sg.
Uncontract. πληρό + ει → ο + ει contract to οι with circumflex → -οῖ.
Lexical form. πληρόω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 3 sg, from πληρόω.
Translate. "he fills" / "he fulfills." High-stakes vocabulary in the Synoptic "this was fulfilled" formulas.

Parse: pres act ind 3 sg, from πληρόω

Translation: "he fulfills." The aorist passive ἐπληρώθη ("was fulfilled") is more common in NT prophetic-fulfillment formulas, but the present πληροῖ appears in characterizing statements.

Related NT form: Col 4:17

16σταυροῦσινο-contract · 3 pl

BDAG-style entry: σταυρόω — I crucify (literally: I fix to a stake/cross)

Recognize. ου with circumflex + -σιν.
Contract type. Lexicon: σταυρόω → ο-contract. -οῦσι(ν) is ο-contract 3 pl. (Compare to drill 9: ζητοῦσιν from ε-contract ζητέω. SAME SURFACE; only the lex entry tells you which.)
Uncontract. σταυρό + ουσι → ο + ου contract to ου with circumflex → -οῦσι.
Lexical form. σταυρόω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 3 pl, from σταυρόω.
Translate. "they crucify."

Parse: pres act ind 3 pl, from σταυρόω

Translation: "they crucify." καὶ σταυροῦσιν αὐτόν (Mark 15:24 paraphrase), "and they crucify him" (historical present).

Exact NT form: Mk 15:24

17δικαιοῖο-contract · 3 sg

BDAG-style entry: δικαιόω — I justify; I declare righteous; I vindicate

Recognize. οι with circumflex = ο-contract.
Contract type. -οῖ → ο-contract 3 sg. (Compare drill 15 πληροῖ — same pattern.)
Uncontract. δικαιό + ει → -οῖ.
Lexical form. δικαιόω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 3 sg, from δικαιόω.
Translate. "he justifies" / "he declares righteous." Pauline core vocabulary.

Parse: pres act ind 3 sg, from δικαιόω

Translation: "he justifies." τὸν δικαιοῦντα τὸν ἀσεβῆ (Rom 4:5, articular participle), "the one who justifies the ungodly." The 3 sg indicative δικαιοῖ appears in similar contexts.

Exact NT form: Mt 13:17

18φανεροῖο-contract · 3 sg

BDAG-style entry: φανερόω — I reveal; I make manifest; I disclose

Recognize. οι with circumflex.
Contract type. -οῖ → ο-contract 3 sg.
Uncontract. φανερό + ει → -οῖ.
Lexical form. φανερόω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 3 sg, from φανερόω.
Translate. "he reveals" / "he makes manifest."

Parse: pres act ind 3 sg, from φανερόω

Translation: "he reveals." The passive ἐφανερώθη ("was revealed") is the more common NT form (1 John 1:2, 3:5); the active 3 sg present φανεροῖ appears in characterizing statements about God's self-revelation.

Exact NT form: 1Co 11:19

19ἀγαπῶ1 sg — α/ε/ο all look identical!

BDAG-style entry: ἀγαπάω — I love

Recognize. -ῶ with circumflex = 1 sg of SOME contract verb. But which family? You can't tell from the surface.
Contract type. You MUST consult the lexicon. ἀγαπάω is listed as -άω → α-contract. So this is α-contract 1 sg.
Uncontract. ἀγαπά + ω → α + ω contract to ω with circumflex → -ῶ.
Lexical form. ἀγαπάω. This is the entire diagnostic. Without knowing the lex form you cannot parse the 1 sg contract.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 1 sg, from ἀγαπάω.
Translate. "I love."

Parse: pres act ind 1 sg, from ἀγαπάω

Translation: "I love." The pedagogical point of this drill is the ambiguity itself. ἀγαπῶ, ποιῶ, σταυρῶ, δικαιῶ, φιλῶ — all "I [something]," all surface as -ῶ. Vocabulary work (memorizing the -άω/-έω/-όω lex form with each verb) is the only thing that lets you parse the 1 sg.

Exact NT form: Jn 14:31

20ποιῶ1 sg — same surface, different family

BDAG-style entry: ποιέω — I do; I make

Recognize. -ῶ with circumflex — same surface as drill 19.
Contract type. Lexicon: ποιέω → ε-contract. So this 1 sg comes from a different family than drill 19's ἀγαπῶ, even though they look identical on the surface.
Uncontract. ποιέ + ω → ε + ω contract to ω with circumflex → -ῶ.
Lexical form. ποιέω.
T-V-M-P-N. pres act ind, 1 sg, from ποιέω.
Translate. "I do" / "I make." (Compare drill 19: same shape, different lexical entry, different meaning.)

Parse: pres act ind 1 sg, from ποιέω

Translation: "I do/make." ὃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ σὺ οὐκ οἶδας ἄρτι (John 13:7), "what I am doing, you do not know now." The 1 sg ποιῶ looks identical to ἀγαπῶ, σταυρῶ, δικαιῶ — the surface gives nothing away. The lexicon is the entire diagnostic for the 1 sg. Drills 19 and 20 together make the same pedagogical point: there is no shortcut to vocabulary.

Exact NT form: Mt 21:24

Practice plan Read all twenty out loud, parsing aloud step by step. Force yourself to (1) name the surface ending and contract type, (2) state the uncontracted form, (3) state the lexical entry. The six-step routine collapses to three quick checks within about fifty repetitions: what's the ending? what's the lexical form? what's the connecting vowel? Pay special attention to drills 19 and 20 — the 1 sg -ῶ ambiguity is the contract-verb system's permanent feature, and the only way to handle it is by knowing the lexical entry of every contract verb you meet. Drill the lex forms in the Vocabulary Trainer alongside the parsing drills.

PracticePart 14: Translation Exercises

Translate

ἀγαπᾷ ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον.
ζητοῦμεν τὴν ἀλήθειαν. [ζητέω = "I seek"]
ποιεῖτε τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ.
καλεῖ ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς μαθητάς.
τηροῦμεν τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
σταυροῦσι τὸν Ἰησοῦν.

Answers 1. God loves the world. (Echo of John 3:16.)
2. We seek the truth. (ζητέω is ε-contract → ζητοῦμεν.)
3. You (pl) do the will of God.
4. Jesus calls the disciples. (καλέω → καλεῖ.)
5. We keep the commandments of Christ. (τηρέω → τηροῦμεν.)
6. They crucify Jesus. (σταυρόω → σταυροῦσι, ο-contract.)

Practice — drill the concepts

Six skill-specific drill sets, then a cumulative Mastery Test of 51 questions on contract verbs — predicting contracted forms from lexical α/ε/ο stems, recognizing contracted forms in NT prose without the original lexical form visible, distinguishing contract from non-contract patterns, and translating real NT sentences with mixed contract types. Items you miss loop until mastered.

Vocabulary — Lesson 11 26 vocabulary words

Greek (lexical)	Translit.	Meaning	Type
ἀγαπάω	agapaō	I love	α
γεννάω	gennaō	I beget, give birth to	α
ζητέω	zēteō	I seek, look for	ε
καλέω	kaleō	I call, name, invite	ε
λαλέω	laleō	I speak, say	ε
παρακαλέω	parakaleō	I urge, comfort, exhort	ε
περιπατέω	peripateō	I walk, walk around	ε
ποιέω	poieō	I do, make	ε
τηρέω	tēreō	I keep, observe, guard	ε
φιλέω	phileō	I love, like (affection)	ε
πληρόω	plēroō	I fill, fulfill	ο
σταυρόω	stauroō	I crucify	ο
φανερόω	phaneroō	I reveal, manifest	ο
μαρτυρέω	martyreō	I bear witness, testify	ε
θεωρέω	theōreō	I see, observe	ε
εὐλογέω	eulogeō	I bless, praise	ε
εὐχαριστέω	eucharisteō	I give thanks	ε
ἐρωτάω	erōtaō	I ask, request	α
τιμάω	timaō	I honor	α
κρατέω	krateō	I take hold of, seize	ε
ὑψόω	hypsoō	I exalt, lift up	ο
καθαρίζω	katharizō	I cleanse, purify	— (-ζω)
φωτίζω	phōtizō	I enlighten, illuminate	— (-ζω)
δοξάζω	doxazō	I glorify, praise	— (-ζω)
βαπτίζω	baptizō	I baptize, immerse	— (-ζω)
σώζω	sōzō	I save, deliver, heal	— (-ζω)