Weeks 11–12: Future Tense Forms

Introduction

Up to this point, you’ve been working with the present tense, which expresses continuous or repeated action in the present. Now, it’s time to move forward—literally—into the future tense.

In Koine Greek, the future tense describes actions that will happen. Just as in English, you might say “I will write” or “they will see,” Greek verbs in the future tense indicate what is yet to come.

Step 1: How the Future Is Formed

The future tense is built on the verb stem with the addition of a future tense marker.

• The marker is usually -σ- (added between the stem and the ending).

• Then the verb takes the same personal endings you already learned for the present active indicative.

Step 2: Paradigm of a Regular Future Verb

Let’s take the verb λύω (luō, “I loosen, release”).

Future Active Indicative

👉 Notice the σ between the stem (λυ-) and the ending. This is the hallmark of the future tense.

Step 3: Future vs. Present

Compare present and future side by side:

• Present: λύω = I loosen

• Future: λύσω = I will loosen

That one small σ completely changes the time frame of the action.

Step 4: Future in the New Testament

1. Matthew 4:19

• ποιήσω ὑμᾶς ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων (poiēsō hymas halieis anthrōpōn)

• “I will make you fishers of men.”

2. John 14:3

• ἔρχομαι καὶ παραλήμψομαι ὑμᾶς (erchomai kai paralēmpsomai hymas)

• “I will come and I will take you to myself.”

3. Romans 10:13

• σωθήσεται (sōthēsetai) → “he will be saved.”

Step 5: Irregularities

Not every verb forms the future with a simple σ. Some verbs undergo small spelling changes (like contractions or dropping letters). For example:

• ἄγω (agō, “I lead”) → ἄξω (axō, “I will lead”).

• ἔχω (echō, “I have”) → ἕξω (hexō, “I will have”).

These irregularities will be introduced gradually, but the key principle is the same: the σ marker signals the future tense.

Practice Assignments

1. Paradigm Practice
Write out the full future active indicative paradigm for each of the following verbs:

• γράφω (graphō, “to write”)

• βλεπω (blepō, “to see”)

• πιστεύω (pisteuō, “to believe”)

2. Translation Drill
Translate into English:

1. γράψεις τὴν γραφήν.

2. βλέψομεν τὸν κύριον.

3. πιστεύσουσιν εἰς τὸν Ἰησοῦν.

3. NT Spotting Exercise
Open John 14 and highlight every verb in the future tense. Translate the verse into English, noting how the σ marker signals the future.

4. Composition Exercise
Write 3 original Greek sentences using the future tense. Translate them into English.
Example: λήψομαι τὸ δῶρον → “I will receive the gift.”

Encouragement

The future tense is one of the most straightforward in Greek—it’s usually just the present stem plus σ. Once you see it, you’ll recognize it quickly.

At this point, you are no longer just working with present actions—you can read Scripture about what is yet to come. This skill will open up prophetic passages and promises of God in their original form.

Keep going—you’re moving beyond the basics into a fuller command of the language of the New Testament!