In this lesson, we will begin the study the parts of speech in the Greek language, and the first of them, the article. To complete the objectives of this lesson, complete the following tasks:
- Read through the lesson from beginning to end.
- Study the lesson for mastery, taking notes.
- Complete the assigned memory work.
- Complete the lesson assessments.
The text of this lesson is translated into English by Mr. William C. Michael, from “Institutionum Linguae Graecae” by Jacob Gretser, S.J. (1767), for student in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. No other use is permitted.
Lesson
1. There are eight parts of speech with the Greeks: Article, Noun, Pronoun, Verb, Participle, Adverb, Preposition and Conjunction.
2. There are five cases: the Straight or Nominative, the Genitive, the Dative, the Accusative, and the Vocative; the Greeks lack the Ablative case.
3. There are three numbers: the Singular, the Dual and the Plural. The dual number is used when one speaks of two things, however, it is not always used.
4. In the dual number, the sound and form is the same in the Nominative, Accusative and Vocative cases; it is the same also in the Genitive and Dative cases. In the plural number, the Vocative case is always the same as the Nomintative.
De Articulo
1. Of articles, one kind is called “prepositive”, which besides the other duties, is set before nouns to be declined, as in Latin we use the pronoun, hic, haec, hoc.
2. The other kind is called “subjunctive”, which is set after words, as the Latin relative pronoun qui, quae, quod, to which also it corresponds in meaning.
3. Articles lack the Vocative case, the power of which is expressed by the adverb of calling ὦ through all genders and numbers of the prepositive article.
Declension of the Prepositive Article
1. In the masculine gender, the article is declined as follows:
- In the singular number, in the Nominative, ὁ (ho), in the Genitive, τοῦ (tû), in the Dative, τῷ (tô), in the Accusative, τὸν (ton), and in the Vocative case, ὦ (ô).
- In the dual number, in the Nominative and Accusative case, τὼ (tō), in the Genitive and Dative cases, τοῖν (toîn), and in the Vocative case, ὦ (ô).
- In the plural number, in the Nominative, οἱ (hoi), in the Genitive, τῶν (tôn), in the Dative, τοῖς (toîs), in the Accusative, τοὺς (toos), and in the Vocative case, ὦ (ô).
2. In the feminine gender, the article is declined as follows:
- In the singular number, in the Nominative, ἡ (hē), in the Genitive, τῆς (tês), in the Dative, τῇ (tê), in the Accusative, τὴν (tēn), and in the Vocative case, ὦ (ô).
- In the dual number, in the Nominative and Accusative case, τὰ (ta), in the Genitive and Dative cases, ταῖν (taîn), and in the Vocative case, ὦ (ô).
- In the plural number, in the Nominative, αἱ (hai), in the Genitive, τῶν (tôn), in the Dative, ταῖς (taîs), in the Accusative, τὰς (tas), and in the Vocative case, ὦ (ô).
3. In the neuter gender, the article is declined as follows:
- In the singular number, in the Nominative and Accusative, τὸ (to), in the Genitive, τοῦ (tû), in the Dative, τῷ (tô), and in the Vocative case, ὦ (ô).
- In the dual number, in the Nominative and Accusative case, τὼ (tō), in the Genitive and Dative cases, τοῖν (toîn), and in the Vocative case, ὦ (ô).
- In the plural number, in the Nominative and Accusative, τὰ (ta), in the Genitive, τῶν (tôn), in the Dative, τοῖς (toîs), and in the Vocative case, ὦ (ô).
4. Articles compounded from these are declined in a similar manner, as the composite articles ὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε and ὅγε, ἥγε, τόγε. In Attic Greek, for ὅδε and τόδε, they say ὁδὶ and τοδί.
Functions of the Prepositive Article
1. First, the prepositive article is generally used by the Greeks when they signify a certain and definite thing, ἀπόδος μοι τὸ βιβλίον, give to me the book, namely, that particular book. ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἧκε, the man comes, not any man, but a particular man. Thus ὁ ποιητὴς, the poet, Homer if you please, who made his name common of his poets on account of his excellence.
2. Second, sometimes it is placed for a demostrative pronoun, τὸν for τοῦτον, especially with the adjoined particles δε, γε, ὅγε, ἥγε, τόγε through all numbers and cases. Demosthenes, for example, writes, εἰ τὸ καὶ τὸ ἐποίησεν ἄνθρωπος οὗτος, οὐκ ἂν ἀπέθανεν, which being translated, reads, “If this and this did that man, not was he dead.”, with the article being used for εἰ τοῦτο καὶτοῦτο.
3. Third, it is accepted in place of interrogatives in the Genitive and Dative singular, τοῦfor τίνος, “Whose?”, and τῷ for τίνι, “For whom?”
4. Fourth, in place of indefinites, as Lucian writes, εἴ τῳ for εἴτίνι, ἀγνοῶ τῷ χρὴ πιστεῦσαι, which being translated is, “If to anyone, I don’t know to whom I ought to give credit.”
5. Fifth, it is used for divisions with the particles μὲν and δὲ, as, ὁ μὲν…ὁ δὲ, “this on the one hand, that on the other”. Τῶν ἀνθρώπων οἱ μὲν ἀγαθοὶ, οἱ δὲ πονηροὶ, which being translated is, “Of men, some (are) good, some (are) evil.”
Declension of the Postpositive Article
1. In the masculine gender, the article is declined as follows:
- In the singular number, in the Nominative, ὃς (hos), in the Genitive, οὗ (hû), in the Dative, ᾧ (hô), in the Accusative, ὅν (hon).
- In the dual number, in the Nominative and Accusative case, ὣ (hō), in the Genitive and Dative cases, οἷν (hoîn).
- In the plural number, in the Nominative, οἳ (hoi), in the Genitive, ὧν (hôn), in the Dative, οἷς (hoîs), and in the Accusative, οὕς (hoos).
2. In the feminine gender, the article is declined as follows:
- In the singular number, in the Nominative, ἣ (hē), in the Genitive, ἧς (hês), in the Dative, ᾗ (hê), and in the Accusative, ἥν (hēn).
- In the dual number, in the Nominative and Accusative case, ἃ (ha), in the Genitive and Dative cases, αἷν (haîn).
- In the plural number, in the Nominative, αἳ (hai), in the Genitive, ὧν (hôn), in the Dative, αἷς (haîs), and in the Accusative, ἅς (has).
3. In the neuter gender, the article is declined as follows:
- In the singular number, in the Nominative and Accusative, ὃ (ho), in the Genitive, οὗ (hû), in the Dative, ᾧ (hô).
- In the dual number, in the Nominative and Accusative case, ὣ (hō), in the Genitive and Dative cases, οἷν (hoîn).
- In the plural number, in the Nominative and Accusative, ἃ (ha), in the Genitive, ὧν (hôn), in the Dative, οἷς (hoîs).
4. The composites of this article are inflected in the same way: ὅσπερ (hosper), ἥπερ (hēper), ὅπερ (hoper), and ὅστις (hostis), ἥτις (hētis), ὅτις (hotis).
Conclusion
In this lesson, we have begun the study of the eight parts of speech in Greek. We have learned the names of the eight parts of speech, the names of the five cases used in Greek and the three numbers.
God bless your studies,
Mr. William C. Michael, Headmaster
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
