greek syntax principle 3

The subject of a verb is often omitted since it is already implicit in the verb. cf. BBG 16.15.
Hence, this sentence;

και ηρωτησαν αυτον και ειπαν αυτω

Is translated this way;

and they asked him and said to him…

It is translated this way because ηρωτησαν is third person, plural. The word “they” is not in the Greek; it is, however, implied in the verb ηρωτησαν. If the verb were third person, singular, then it would be translated like this:

και ηρωτησεν αυτον και ειπεν αυτω

and he asked him and said to him…

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