misprint?

[bacon]

ref BBG workbook Exercise 27, #7 which reads in part.
Και ε?χεται π?ος αυτον λεπ?ος πα?ακαλων αυτον.
The answer key translates,"And a leper went to him, calling upon him."
Is ε?χεται able to be translated as "he went", an aorist, or is this a misprint?

[Bert]

Literally it says; And a leper goes to him... but in English we usually use the past tense when we tell a story.
In Greek narative often the present is used even if the event has happened in the past. This is called Historical Present. It is supposed to increase the vividness of the narative.
In English we don't do this except in informal speech.
Ever heard someone say; ...so I says to the guy.... instead of; ...so I said to the guy....?

[bacon]

Yes, I have, and what you say makes sense, though for Mounce to throw that in at this stage(basic grammar) throws me a bit. Is the Historical Present only a feature of narrative or does it occur in other places? Is context the guide for its use?
Thanks Bert

[ThomasGR]

"Και ε?χεται π?ος αυτον" should be translated "And comes to him" > "And there came to him". I wonder why they confuse "go" with "come" (Πηγαίνει vs. έ?χεται).

[Bert]

Yes, I have, and what you say makes sense, though for Mounce to throw that in at this stage(basic grammar) throws me a bit.

You have probably run into into it before, especial with λέγω. You may not have noticed it because the translation exercises don't have a lot of context. For example if you look at workbook chapter 16 #10, in smooth English λέγουσιν would be translated as 'they said' and not 'they say.' λέγω is by far the most common verb when it comes to Historical Present.

Is the Historical Present only a feature of narrative or does it occur in other places? Is context the guide for its use?

Yes, only in narative and yes, context is your guide. It is not hard to get used to it though.