ἄν

ἄν,

conditional particle,

which cannot usually be separately translated in English, its force depending on the constructions which contain it (see further, LS, see word; WM, §xlii; M, Pr., 165 ff.; MM, VGT, see word).

1. In apodosis,

(i) with indic, imperfect or aor., expressing what would be or would have been if (εἰ with impf., aor. or plpf.) some condition were or had been fulfilled: Luke 7:39; 17:6, John 5:46, Galatians 1:10, Matthew 12:7; 24:43, 1 Corinthians 2:8, Acts 18:14, 1 John 2:19, al. The protasis is sometimes understood (as also in cl.): Matthew 25:27, Luke 19:23. In hypothetical sentences, expressing unreality, ἄν (as often in late writers, more rarely in cl.) is omitted: John 8:39; 15:24; 19:11, Romans 7:7, Galatians 4:15;

(ii) with opt., inf., ptcp. (cl.; see LS, see word; M, Int., §275; M, Pr., 167:4).

2. In combination with conditional, relative, temporal, and final words;

(i) as in cl., with subj.,

(a) in protasis with εἰ, in Attic contr. ἐάν, which see;

(b) in conditional, relative, and temporal clauses (coalescing with ὅτε, ἐπεί, etc.; see: ὅταν, ἐπάν, etc.), ever, soever;

(α) with pres., ἡνίκα, 2 Corinthians 3:15; ὃς ἄν, Romans 9:15 (LXX) 16:2, al.; ὅσοι ἄν, Luke 9:5; ὡς ἄν, Romans 15:24 (M, Pr., 167);

(β) with aor., ὃς ἄν, Matthew 5:21, 22, 31; ἕως ἄν, until, Matthew 2:13, Mark 6:10, al.; ὡς ἄν, as soon as (M, Pr., 167), 1 Corinthians 11:34, Philippians 2:23. On the frequently use of ἐάν for ἄν with the foregoing words, see: ἐάν;

(ii) in late Gk., when some actual fact is spoken of, with indic.: ὅταν (which see); ὅπου ἄν, Mark 6:56 (M, Pr., 168); καθότι ἄν, Acts 2:45; 4:35; ὡς ἄν, 1 Corinthians 12:2.

3. in iterative construction, with imperfect and aor. indic. (M, Pr., 167): Acts 2:45; 4:35, 1 Corinthians 12:2.

4. with optative, giving a potential sense to a question or wish: Acts 8:31; 26:29.

5. Elliptical constructions: εἰ μή τι ἄν (M, Pr., 169), 1 Corinthians 7:5; ὡς ἄν, with inf., as it were (op. cit. 167), 2 Corinthians 10:9.