Chapter X. The Limitative Tenses

§199. Under the term ‘Limitative’ are grouped all those tenses which have a definite standpoint in time, as opposed to the relatively timeless notion implied by the Durative tenses. The term ‘Limitative’ is here used to stress the fact that the verbal action is limited to a specific point in time. The action can be regarded as achieved in the past, or so certain of achievement that it can be regarded as completed in the future. Under ‘Limitative’ are included the following: The Perfect (§200ff), the Tense of Habitude (§204ff), the Future (§208ff) including the Optative (§220) and the two tenses of Unfulfilled Action (§223, 24). Note that, in contrast to the Durative Tenses (§187.1), those tenses classed as Limitative cannot use the Qualitative form of the verb, but can use the Construct and Pronominal forms of the verb where they exist (cf further §326); e.g. a.3.`oo.s ‘He said it’, a.tek.mna  `pe  mhte  n.mna ‘Thy mina has produced ten mina’ (Lk 19:16), 5.na.`eu  pa.aggelos ‘I will send my messenger’ (Mk 1:2).

§200. The Perfect:
§200a. I Perfect: This is the historic tense indicating an action which has been completed in the past. In contrast to the Durative notion of the Imperfect, this tense represents Instantaneous Past Action; e.g. a.pe.farisaios  de  a6.erat.3  a.3.`e.nai ‘The Pharisee stood; he said this’ (Lk 18:11), a.u.5  n.apot  n.hrp  n.ou.6llo ‘They gave a cup of wine to an old man’ (Z 291.d.1). Note: When a- stands before a Nominal Subject with the Indefinite Article, contraction usually occurs (§16); e.g. a.u.4a  (for a.ou.4a) de  4wpe  n.ouoei4 ‘A feast once took place in Shiët (Z 291.d.1).
§201. Negation of I Perfect: e.g. mpe.rwme  4a`e  ene6  n.q.e  m.pei.rwme ‘Man did not ever speak as this man’ (Jn 7:46), auw  on  mpe.p.6llo  toloma  e.tnnoou  m.p.maqhths ‘And still the old man dared not send the disciple’ (Z 294.c.6), etbe.ou  mp.ou.5.pei.so2n  ebol  6a  4mt.4e  n.sateere ‘Why did they not sell this ointment for 300 staters?’ (Jn 12:5). Note 1: The 1^st pers sing sometimes appears in the form mp.i-; the fuller forms mpe.k-, mpe.3-, and mpe.s- are also common; e.g. mpe.s.mise ‘She did not give birth’ (Z 296.14). Note 2: mpe- as a bad spelling for e.mpe- with the meaning ‘Until’ (§231).
§202. II Perfect: This tense, while expressing instantaneous Past action, indicates that the main stress in the sentence is placed on the Adverbial Extension; e.g. nta.u.ei  gar  e.m4t  p.ka6 ‘For to spy out the land have they come’ (Josh 2:3), nta.3.ouon6.3  de  ebol  n.tei.6e ‘In this way he revealed himself’ (Jn 21:1), nta.nai  gar  4wpe  `ekas  ere.te.grafh  `wk  ebol ‘In order that the scripture should be fulfilled, these things happened’ (Jn 19:36); cf also the 3^rd example quoted in §186.
§203. Negation of II Perfect: Negation of this tense follows the model of II Present (§193), but it is to be noted that the first negative particle n  falls away before the initial n  of the auxiliary (it may be noted here that n is similarly dropped with the II tenses of Habitude [§207] and Future [§213]); e.g. nta.i.ei  gar  an  `e  e.ie.krine  m.p.kosmos ‘For in order that I should judge the world I have not come’ (Jn 12:47), anok  nta.4a`e  an  6aro.i  mauaa.t ‘In respect of myself I have not spoken’ (Jn 12:49).
§204. Tense of Habitude: This tense, which has  the distinctive syllable  4a , has the meaning of  repeated instantaneous action . Customary action is indicated, but it is to be noted that a series of reiterated actions may not only be regarded as effected in the past, but also due to be effected in the future. This tense has been named, somewhat misleadingly, Praesens Consuetudinus; but the basic notion of a repetition of past action demands the relinquishing of the term Praesens at least.
§204a. I Habitude: e.g. 4are.peu.pna  ei  ebol ‘Their spirit is wont to come forth’ (Ps 104:29?), 4are.ni.4a`e  e.q.oou  take ni.6ht  et.nanou.ou ‘Evil words will go on destroying good hearts’ (I‑Cor 15:33), e.