Repetition of ἄν

[Wishihadatypewriter]

Hi:
In conditional sentences with more than one clause, should ἄν be repeated? For example, a random sentence:
"If we should attack the city now, we should find (ἄν) fewer defenders at the gates, and kill (ἄν) more guards."
Thanks.

[mwh]

A shame no-one replied to this your first post. People on these boards are normally very helpful and responsive. Yours must have somehow slipped through.

The answer (if you’re still there) is Yes, normally you would have an ἄν with each of the main verbs (εὕροιμεν ἂν ... καὶ ἀποκτείναιμεν ἂν ... ).

ἄν is such a weak little thing that it has difficulty making its force felt over more than a single clause.

Alternatively the syntax might be different, "having found ... we would kill ..." (εὑρόντες ... ἀποκτείναιμεν ἂν ...). That's very Greek.

Hopeugetatypewriter.