έρπω (erpo) — to crawl - Modern Greek Verbs

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Understand this verb

Source references

Look for γράφω → γράφεις: the stress comes before the final -ω. The group helps with present endings; other tenses may use a different stem. Check the tables below.

How to read the verb tables

Start with the present. Find the row for the person you mean: εγώ (I), εσύ (you, singular), αυτός/αυτή/αυτό (he/she/it), εμείς (we), εσείς (you, plural or polite), αυτοί/αυτές/αυτά (they). Greek often leaves out these pronouns because the ending shows the person.

Continuous: over time or repeatedly: έγραφα — I was writing / used to write; θα γράφω — I will be writing. The imperfect is the continuous past.
Simple: an action viewed as a whole: έγραψα — I wrote; θα γράψω — I will write. “Simple” does not mean the action must be short.
Perfect: completed by a reference point: έχω γράψει — I have written; είχα γράψει — I had written; θα έχω γράψει — I will have written.
Subjunctive: forms with να: θέλω να γράφω κάθε μέρα — I want to write every day; θέλω να γράψω ένα μήνυμα — I want to write a message. The sentence supplies the time; the forms distinguish repeated activity from an action viewed as a whole.
Imperative: instructions or requests: γράφε κάθε μέρα — write every day; γράψε το όνομά σου — write your name. These show continuous and simple instructions.
Active and middle/passive: form and meaning: γράφω — I write; γράφεται — it is written. But a middle/passive ending does not always express a passive meaning: έρχομαι means I come.

Alternative forms: commas or slashes separate alternatives. Parentheses mark optional letters, for example γράφουν(ε) means γράφουν or γράφουνε. Alternatives can differ in style or context, so read any usage note before choosing.

A dash or a missing table means a form is not supplied here. Check the entry’s notes; it does not by itself prove that every omitted form is impossible.

Other verbs with the same source references

λάμπω · λείπω

These verbs share source references, but their forms and meanings may differ.

έρπω means to crawl or creep along the ground. It is learned and uses the present stem; σέρνομαι is a common everyday alternative.

Present · Ενεστώτας

Πρόσωπο — Person	Form
εγώ — I	έρπω
εσύ — you	έρπεις
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό — he / she / it	έρπει
εμείς — we	έρπουμε, έρπομε
εσείς — you (plural / polite)	έρπετε
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά — they	έρπουν(ε)

Imperfect · Παρατατικός

Πρόσωπο — Person	Form
εγώ — I	(ήρπα)
εσύ — you	(ήρπες)
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό — he / she / it	(ήρπε)
εμείς — we	(έρπαμε)
εσείς — you (plural / polite)	(έρπατε)
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά — they	(ήρπαν, ήρπαν(ε))

Continuous future · Εξακολουθητικός μέλλοντας

Πρόσωπο — Person	Form
εγώ — I	θα έρπω
εσύ — you	θα έρπεις
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό — he / she / it	θα έρπει
εμείς — we	θα έρπουμε, θα έρπομε
εσείς — you (plural / polite)	θα έρπετε
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά — they	θα έρπουν(ε)

Continuous subjunctive · Εξακολουθητική υποτακτική

Πρόσωπο — Person	Form
εγώ — I	να έρπω
εσύ — you	να έρπεις
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό — he / she / it	να έρπει
εμείς — we	να έρπουμε, να έρπομε
εσείς — you (plural / polite)	να έρπετε
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά — they	να έρπουν(ε)

Imperative · Προστακτική

έρπε / έρπετε are learned continuous commands, encountered especially in formal or military contexts.

Participles and usage · Μετοχές και χρήση

There is no ordinary simple-past or perfect series supplied. The imperfect forms in parentheses are rare and are not recommended as everyday learner choices.
έρποντας means crawling. In ordinary narration, a construction with σέρνομαι is often more natural.

Το φίδι πλησίασε έρποντας.

The snake approached by crawling.

Reference: Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek — έρπω.

Source: Modern Greek Verbs
https://moderngreekverbs.com/erpo/
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