ἀποθνήσκω

[pster]

Does ἀποθνήσκω have a middle in the present? Here is the LSJ:

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/mor ... ek#lexicon

More generally, are we supposed to assume that intransitive verbs lack middles? Are we at least supposed to assume that they lack middles that serve as passives?

Thanks in advance.

[pster]

And I have a related question. If we take a transitive verb and employ one of the passive forms, is that passive form also transitive (in the reverse direction), or is it intransitive--generally speaking of course?

[annis]

Does ἀποθνήσκω have a middle in the present? Here is the LSJ:

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/mor ... ek#lexicon

If it doesn't show up in the LSJ, then it probably does not.

More generally, are we supposed to assume that intransitive verbs lack middles? Are we at least supposed to assume that they lack middles that serve as passives?

That is a more difficult question than you might imagine. I recommend you read this: Active, Middle, and Passive: Understanding Ancient Greek Voice

And I have a related question. If we take a transitive verb and employ one of the passive forms, is that passive form also transitive (in the reverse direction), or is it intransitive--generally speaking of course?

Strictly speaking, a passive is, by definition, intransitive. But in ancient Greek one will look a long time to find any verb form that is solely and truly "passive" rather than simply taking medio-passive marking, which can take a range of meanings, many transitive.

[pster]

That is a more difficult question than you might imagine. I recommend you read this: Active, Middle, and Passive: Understanding Ancient Greek Voice

Thanks so much. Excellent replies. But I did imagine there was probably a knot of issues from the way Mastronarde finessed the topic, just as he finessed the matter of the primary endings striped of theme vowel (it was only later when he introduced secondary endings that it dawned on me that he never explicity listed the primary ones.) But I digress. Thanks again, and I will read that pdf.