Grammar - Nouns & Adjectives

Question 1

8 Noun Rules

Answer 1

1. Stems ending in α or η are in the first declension, stems ending in ο are in the second declension, and consonantal stems are in the third declension.
2. Every neuter word has the same form in the nominative and accusative.
3. Almost all neuter words end in α in the nominative and accusative plural.
4. In the dative singular, the ι subscripts if possible.
5. Vowels often change their length (“ablaut”)
6. In the genitive and dative, the masculine and neuter will always be identical.
7. Square of Stops:
   π, β, φ + σ = ψ
   κ, γ, χ + σ = ξ
   τ, δ, θ + σ = σ
8. τ drops out from the end of a word. Also, both τ and ν drop out before a σ.

Question 2

Vocative Case

Answer 2

Signular:
1st Decl. - Same as Nominative
2nd Decl. - Usually ε case ending
3rd Decl. - Usually bare stem (or Ablaut)

Plural:
1st, 2st, 3rd - Same as Nominative

“The vocative case is the case used for addressing someone. It technically has no syntactical
relation to the main clause.”

Question 3

Determining an Adjective in Context

Substantive, Attributive, or Predicate

Answer 3

• If an adjective functions as a noun rather than modifying or predicating something about
  a noun, it must be substantive.
• If it is not substantive:
  
  • If the adjective is articular, it must be attributive.
  • If the noun is articular but the adjective is not, it must be predicate.
  • If neither noun nor adjective is articular, it may be attributive or predicate.

Question 4

αὐτός

Name its three uses and characteristics.

Answer 4

.1. Personal Pronoun (3rd person)
* Stands in place of a noun (rather than modifying a noun)
* Agrees with antecedent in number and gender, but its case is determined by its
syntactical role in its clause.
* Translate with appropriate English 3rdperson personal pronoun.

.2. Adjectival Intensive
* Modifies another word as an adjective.
* Agrees with the word it modifies in case, number, and gender.
* Usually in predicate position (i.e., not preceded by article), though it modifies
the word attributively.
* Translate with appropriate reflexive pronoun.
* (Αὐτός as an adjectival intensive can modify even 1st or 2nd person pronouns
or just in the nominative case in relation to a 1st or 2nd person verb.)

.3. Identical Adjective
* Modifies another word as an adjective.
* Agrees with the word it modifies in case, number, and gender.
* Usually in attributive position (i.e., preceded by the article).
* Translate with “same.”

Question 5

Degrees of an Adjective

Answer 5

• The positive degree is the uncompared form of the adjective (large, μεγας)
• The comparative degree denotes the greater of two items (larger, μειζων)
• The superlatives degree describes the greatest, or a comparison of three or more (largest, μεγιστος)

BBG, p.133

Question 6

Near and Remote Demonstrative Adjectives

Uses and Characteristics

Answer 6

1. Pronoun
   * Stands in place of a noun (rather than modifying a noun)
   * Agrees with antecedent in number and gender, but its case is determined by its syntactical role in its clause.
   * Translate with this, these, that, or those. You will usually need to supply a noun.
2. Adjective
   * Modifies another word as an adjective.
   * Agrees with the word it modifies in case, number, and gender.
   * Usually in predicate position (i.e., not preceded by article), though it modifies the word attributively.

Question 7

Relative Pronoun

Uses and Characteristics

Answer 7

• Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses, which (the relative clause) can function as either
  - Attributive (modifying a noun), or
  - Substantival (in place of a noun, as subject of a verb, object of a verb, object of a preposition, etc.)
• Relative pronouns agree their antecedents in number and gender, but they take their case from their role in the syntax of the relative clause.