The Verb 'Be' In Ancient Greek

(Hardback)

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This book offers a systematic description of the use and grammar of the verb 'to be' in Ancient Greek, before the philosophers took it over to express the central concepts in Greek logic and metaphysics. The evidence is taken primarily from Homer, but supplemented by specimens from classical Attic prose. Topics discussed include the original status of the verb in Indo-European, as well as the logical and syntactic relations among copula, existential, and veridical uses.

Reviews

"It is great news that this book is available again. It deserves to be better known, both for its pioneering methods of linguistic analysis and for the results to which they lead. It transforms our understanding of the all-important Greek verb 'to be'." -- Myles Burnyeat, All Souls College, University of Oxford.

Author Bio

Charles H Kahn is Professor of Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania.