The present tense represents a simple statement of fact or reality viewed as occurring in actual time. In most cases this corresponds directly with the English present tense.
Some phrases which might be rendered as past tense in English will often occur in the present tense in Greek. These are termed "historical presents," and such occurrences dramatize the event described as if the reader were there watching the event occur. Some English translations render such historical presents in the English past tense, while others permit the tense to remain in the present.
Word Voice
Middle or Passive Deponent
The middle or passive deponent forms in almost all cases are translated as being in the active voice.
The Greek participle corresponds for the most part to the English participle, reflecting "-ing" or "-ed" being suffixed to the basic verb form. The participle can be used either like a verb or a noun, as in English, and thus is often termed a "verbal noun."
Bibliography Information
Thayer and Smith. "Greek Lexicon entry for ". "The New Testament Greek Lexicon". <http://www.searchgodsword.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=5740>.